Ahmedabad, July 23: The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the budget allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) for the fiscal year 2024-25. In a statement, MCC convener Mujahid Nafees labeled the budget as disappointing and inadequate for addressing the needs of minority communities in India.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union budget for 2024-25, totaling Rs. 48,20,512.08 crores, marking a modest 1% increase from the previous year. Of this, the budget allocation for MoMA is Rs. 3,183.24 crores, which constitutes approximately 0.066% of the total budget. In comparison, the budget for MoMA was Rs. 4,810.77 crores in 2021-22 and Rs. 5,020.50 crores in 2022-23. Last year, the allocation stood at Rs. 3,097.60 crores.
Nafees highlighted significant reductions in key schemes under MoMA, including cuts in the Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme, Merit-cum-Means Scheme, Maulana Azad Fellowship Scheme, Coaching Scheme, and Interest Subsidy.
Additionally, there is no provision for the UPSC Preparation Scheme, Skill Development Initiative Scheme, Nayi Manzil Scheme, Minority Women Leadership Development Scheme, Ustad Scheme, Hamari Dharohar Scheme, and the Maulana Azad Foundation. The Qaumi Waqf Board Taraqqiyati Scheme and the PM Virasat Ka Samvardhan Scheme also faced budget cuts, alongside reductions in the Educational Scheme for Minorities and Madrasas, National Minority Commission, and support for Linguistic Minorities. Despite these cuts, an increase of Rs. 310.90 crores has been proposed for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK).
Nafees condemned the budget as discriminatory, arguing that it fails to support the development of minority communities. He emphasized that the government’s approach is hindering progress for these groups. The MCC is demanding a budgetary allocation of at least Rs. 1 lakh crore to uplift the backward communities in India.
“This budget demonstrates the government’s discriminatory stance towards the minority community,” Nafees stated.
“The government does not want the minority community of India to progress on the path of development. The MCC considers this budget to be discriminatory and demands that at least Rs. 1 lakh crore should be allocated in the Union Budget as a special provision to uplift the backward community.”
The MCC’s call for a more substantial budget allocation underscores the urgent need for equitable and inclusive development policies that adequately address the needs of minority communities in India.
