New Delhi, August 09: Literacy rate is one of the most important indicators of educational status. As per 2001 census figures, the literacy rate of Minority communities is as follows:
Religion Literacy Rate
Literacy Rate Literacy Rate Average
(Males) (Females)
Muslims 67.6 50.01 59.1
Christians 84.4 76.2 80.3
Sikhs 75.2 63.1 69.4
Buddhists 83.1 61.7 72.7
Zoroastrians NA NA NA
All India 75.3 53.7 64.8
Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, ShriSalman Khurshid, Minister for Minority Affairs, said that Muslims have a lower literacy rate as compared to all India average for both males and females. He said that Prime Minister’s new 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities focuses on enhancing opportunities for education amongst other things. Under this programme, the following issues are being addressed to promote education among minority communities:
(i) Improving access to school education;
(ii) Greater resources for teaching Urdu;
(iii) Modernizing Madrasa Education;
(iv) Award of Scholarships to meritorious students from minority communities; and
(v) Improving educational infrastructure through the Maulana Azad Education Foundation.
The Minister informed Lok Sabha that Maulana Azad Education Foundation awards scholarships for girl students and extends financial assistance for infrastructural development in educational institutions run by Non-Government Organizations. Further, under Free Coaching and Allied Scheme for the persons belonging to the minority communities, assistance is provided to students by way of coaching for various jobs and for various entrance examinations.
Besides, a Special Area Development Programme, known as Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) for Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) is being implemented since 2008-09. Since then, 12,140 additional class rooms (ACRs), 637 school buildings, 28 Industrial Training Institutes and 210 hostels for students have been approved for construction in several MCDs.
Shri Salman Khurshid said that to ensure that the benefits of the schemes go to the intended beneficiaries the Ministry of Minority Affairs reviews the overall progress under the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities on a quarterly basis with the nodal officers of the other Ministries. The progress is reviewed once in six months by the Committee of Secretaries and thereafter, a report is submitted to the Union Cabinet. Monitoring and review is done at the State level and at district levels through the State Level Committees and the District Level Committees constituted for implementation of the Prime Minister’s new 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary and the Deputy Commissioner/Collector respectively.
In addition the Ministry of Minority Affairs has introduced the system of National Level Monitors (NLMs). These NLMs visit the Districts periodically and give their report.
–Agencies–