The Union government has made it clear that they have no plans of restoring or reinstating the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) scheme and pre-matric scholarships for the minority community students from Classes 1 to 8. On February 2, 2023, during the ongoing special Budget Session of the Parliament, Lok Sabha Members Shri K. Muraleedharan (INC), Shri Abdul Khaleque (INC), and Shri Kunwar Danish Ali (BSP) raised questions concerning the discontinuation of the MANF scheme for minority students.

On December 9, 2022, the Union government had announced the union government’s decision to discontinue the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), a scholarship for students from minority communities, from this academic year. The reason quoted by the government was that the MANF scheme overlapped with various other fellowship schemes for higher education.

The MPs had asked the government to provide the details, including the underlying reasons, for the discontinuation of the MANF scheme and the pre-matric scholarships for the students belonging to minority communities. The ministers had also asked whether the said decision of discontinuation will affect the studies of the minority students or not.

The Union Minister of the Ministry of Minorities Affairs, Smriti Irani, responded to the said questions by reiterating the answer provided by the Ministry before, and informing the Lok Sabha that “the Government has implemented various schemes for the welfare and upliftment of every strata, including minorities, especially the economically weaker and lesser privileged sections of the society, through various schemes of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Rural Development.”

As a justification for discontinuing the MANF, the government provided that “It has been observed that the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) Scheme of UGC and CSIR is open for students of all categories. Besides, students from minority communities are also covered under National Fellowship Schemes for Scheduled Castes and OBCs implemented by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and National Fellowship Schemes for Scheduled Tribes implemented by Ministry of Tribal Affairs.” But, the issue with the government’s statement of MANF overlapping with other schemes is not justified as it has been specifically pointed out that the MANF overlaps with the OBCNF (Other Backward Classes National Fellowship) and students from minority communities are not included in the category of OBCs, STs or SCs.

Furthermore, as it is not possible for a student to benefit from multiple scholarships at the same time, the question of overlap does not arise. Since the number of applicants for Junior Research Fellowship are high, while the ones that get the grant are low, the MANF scholarship provided a second backing to the child from the minority communities.

For making the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme applicable to only students of classes IX and X, the government provided that the same was decided as under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, free and compulsory elementary education (classes I to VIII) to each and every child. For a government that aims to encourage access to education for all, especially to the underprivileged and minorities, this seems like a step back.

Both of these decisions, which the government is in no mood to change, seem like an effort by the government to snatch the minority community’s access to education and research. The number of students from the minority communities is low as it is. It can be said that while making these decisions of cutting down scholarships, the government has failed to consider the systematic oppression and discrimination faced by the minorities.

The complete answer may be read here.

In the same Budget session of the Parliament, MP Mala Roy questioned the Ministry of Minority Affairs to provide information regarding whether the Government proposes to withdraw the education loan subsidy for minority students to study abroad, the details thereof and the number of beneficiaries. In January 2023, the Ministry of Minority Affairs had discontinued the scheme of interest subsidy on education loans for overseas studies for students belonging to minority communities (Padho Pardesh).

All the banks were notified by the Indian Banks’ Association last month about the discontinuation of the Padho Pardesh Interest Subsidy Scheme from 2022-23. The scheme so far was being implemented through Canara Bank, the designated nodal bank. As per MoMA’s latest annual report, during the year 2020-21, an amount of ₹20.20 crore was released to Canara Bank for reimbursement of interest subsidy of fresh plus renewal candidates under the Scheme.

The reason for the same, as provided by the minister in her reply, was that “it was observed that benefits of interest subsidy that got accrued to the beneficiaries under the Padho Pardesh scheme were limited and also that there is an apparent overlap with other similar schemes being implemented by other Ministries which are applicable to eligible minority community students as well. In view of the aforesaid overlap, limited benefits and ease of availing education loans on low rate of interest, it has been decided to discontinue Padho Pardesh Scheme from 2022-23 onward.”

The government further provided the state/UT-wise number of beneficiaries during last five years, which is as follows:

It is essential to note, as can be deduced from the data provided, the number of beneficiaries of the Padho Pardesh scheme had only increased in the last 5 years. In comparison to 3,656 beneficiaries in the year 2020-21, there were 4,622 beneficiaries in the year 2021-22, when the government suddenly decided to stop this education loan subsidy scheme.

It is further crucial to note, that in there had been a significant increase in the number of beneficiaries in the (erstwhile) state and current Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, wherein the number increased to 202 in 2021-22 from just 28 beneficiaries in 2017-18; the state of Kerala, wherein the number increased to 3,359 in 2021-22 from just 715 beneficiaries in 2017-18. The significant increase in the overall number of beneficiaries as also the substantial increase in number of beneficiaries in some of the states indicates that the reach of the scheme had just about spread widely and was benefiting the minorities when the government decided to pull the plug on them.

The complete answer may be read here.

Related:

SC: India is a secular country; PIL for RTE Act implementation should benefit members of all weaker sections

Union scraps Maulana Azad Scholarships for Research Scholars from Minority Communities

Centre excludes overseas humanities and social science courses from SC/ST scholarship

‘Woeful allocation’: Union budget ‘neglects, condemns’ physically challenged persons

Union Budget a Statement of ‘Sheer Hopelessness’, say Farmer Leaders

Women are the majority beneficiaries of World Bank-funded minority scholarships

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This year’s budget has been no different as far as the disabled community is concerned. They continue to be condemned to the margins and neglected, high sounding rhetoric like “inclusive India” notwithstanding.

In comparison to the previous year, there is merely a 1% increase. However, it needs to be underlined that the amount allotted for 2022– 2023 was underutilized by Rs. 196 crore.

It is disturbing that the allocations for the Scheme for Implementation of the (Rights of) Persons with Disabilities Act has been severely reduced by 90 crores, from Rs. 240.39 (BE) last year to Rs. 150 crore this year, despite the mandates of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which the government has miserably failed to implement.

It is the woefully inadequate allocation that is in the main responsible for the failure in implementing the provisions of accessibility within a span of five years as mandated by the RPD Act. Sadly, even support for important autonomous bodies established by Acts of Parliament that cater to persons with disabilities, like the National Trust and the Rehabilitation Council of India, remains the same.

Despite the devastating effects of the pandemic, the government has refused to heed the demand for free and universal health coverage for all disabled; removing the income criteria in the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana for persons with disabilities as also making a substantial increase in allocations towards mental health programmes.

The allocations for the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme remain unchanged at Rs. 290 crore as compared to last year. The government has refused to enhance both the amount and the coverage of the pension. 

The amount has remained unchanged at Rs. 300 for more than a decade and covers a mere 3.8 per cent of the disabled population identified by the 2011 census. One has to have a disability of 80 per cent and above and has to fall under the BPL category to avail the benefit of this scheme.

In the first budget of Amrit Kaal, except for promise of a mission to eliminate sickle cell anaemia, there is nothing to cheer about

Shockingly, allocation to MNREGS has been further cut by Rs. 13,000 crore this year. Compared to 2021-22 MNREGS allocations have been by reduced by nearly 40,000 crores (it was reduced by 25,000 crores last year). 

And this comes at a time when there has been a heavy reliance on schemes like the MNREGS in the countryside during the pandemic, which has also benefitted the disabled population in the rural areas. Cut in allocations for PM Poshan Yojana, ICDS programmes and food subsides — will all adversely impact the disabled also.

Given the shrinkage of job opportunities in the public sector, to tide over the employment crisis it was incumbent that incentives/disincentives for employing/not employing disabled persons in the private sector were introduced. But this was not to be so.

In the first budget of the Amrit Kaal, except for the promise to launch a mission to eliminate sickle cell anaemia (recognised as a disability under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act) by 2024 and screen over 7 crore people in the tribal areas, there is nothing to cheer about for the disabled population. 

They continue to be neglected, disregarded and condemned. It is not surprising that in the “inclusive development” guided by Saptarishi that the finance minister waxed eloquent, there was just one casual reference to “divyangjan”.

The urges all the state affiliates of National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled and other disability rights organizations to declare their staunch opposition to the budget’s regressive aspects.

*General secretary, National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled

Courtesy: https://www.counterview.net

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New Delhi: Farmers’ organisations on Wednesday said in the Union Budget 2023-24, the Centre has “literally taken revenge” on farmers for their historic movement that forced roll-back of the three farm laws, by reducing allocations in every major scheme, including Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana and PM Fasal Bima Yojana.

Ashok Dhawale, president, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) told NewsClick that farmers expected the finance minister to announce something to assure them minimum support price (MSP) as per the Swaminathan Commission formula of providing them 1.5 times remuneration of the cost prices.

“The BJP government has refused to implement the MSP as per the M.S.Swaminathan Commission recommendations of C2+50 % nor has it ensured legal guarantee for MSP leading to increasing distress for farmers. This budget does nothing to mitigate the situation,” he said, adding that the government is “exacting a revenge from farmers for the humiliating defeat suffered by it at the hands of the historic united farmers’ movement which forced it to withdraw the three pro-corporate farm Acts.”

Dhawale said farmers were battling challenges like climate change, recession and rising input costs. Yet, the Centre chose to drastically cut allocation for agriculture sector from Rs 1,24,000 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 1,15,531.79 crore this year. Citing the example of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, which provided monetary assistance to 12 crore farmers, Dhawale said that Rs 60,000 crore was not enough.

“Even on the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, in comparison with the 2022-23 Budget Estimates of Rs.15,500 crore, this Budget only has proposed Rs.13,625 crore. The Green Revolution, which was earlier advertised as core scheme and had an allocation of Rs.6,747 crore in 2021-22, had no allocation in the last as well as this year’s budget.

There has also been a drastic cut in fertiliser subsidies from Rs.2,25,000 crore in 2022-23 Revised Estimates (RE) to Rs.1,75,000 crore in Budget Estimates (RE) of 2023-24, a 22% cut of Rs.50,000 crore. “Such a move could have an adverse impact on productivity and impact production of foodgrains,” he added.

Dhawale said the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana has been drastically cut from Rs.10,433 crore to Rs.7,150 crore. The allocation for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sinchai Yojna has been cut from Rs.12,954 crore in 2022-23 BE to Rs.10,787 crore.

 “If we look at the allocation for rural employment, which was Rs.1,53,525.41 crore in the RE of 2022-23, it has has been drastically cut to Rs.1,01,474.51 crore in the 2023-24 BE. The allotment for MGNREGS has been cut from Rs.89,000 crore in RE of 2022-23 to only Rs.60,000 crore in the 2023-24 BE.

“This is at a time when an estimated 2.72 lakh crores are required if the government intends to provide the legally guaranteed 100 days of employment,” he added.
 
Dharmendra Malik, spokesman, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Apolitical) said that the budget seems like a routine exercise which has very little to offer to farmers. “We are very disappointed that there has been no increase in monetary allocation for buying grains under the Central pool. The Centre has been focusing on encouraging consumption of cereals but how will it happen unless there is no money to buy them,” he said.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a collective of farmers unions which spearheaded historic farmers struggle to repeal farm laws, too criticised the budget for “concealing data” about farmers’ incomes.

An SKM statement read: “Union Budget 2023 is silent on Doubling Farmers Income. There were no figures given in the Budget. It may be recalled that according to the Govt., it was Rs.8000 per month in 2016 (the year of announcement) and was to be increased to Rs.21,000 per month in 2022, so that the grand announcement of doubling income becomes reality. After 3 years, it was found to have been Rs.10,200 and perhaps now it is a maximum of Rs.12,400. Thus, out of the targeted increase in income of Rs.13,000, only Rs.4,400 has been achieved, that is only one-third of the target. In any case, the Govt has dishonestly stopped giving data on this and has hoodwinked the farmers.”

The SKM leaders said while the Govt has irrationally resisted the demands of farmers for MSP and its guarantee, this budget has removed “even the fig-leaf” with which the government was trying to cover its meagre efforts to ensure that farmers get MSP.

Flagship schemes like PM Annadata Aay Sangrakshan Abhiyan (AASHA) have seen a steady decline in allocation. Two years ago, it was Rs.1,500 crore. In 2022, this was reduced to Rs.1 crore. Only Rs.1 crore to secure 150 million farming households!

Similarly, the Price Support Scheme (PSS) and MIS (Market Intervention Scheme) was reduced from Rs.3,000 crore to Rs.1,500 crore in 2022, and this year it is an “unimaginable” Rs.10 lakh, it said. In effect, the government has buried AASHA, PSS and MIS and with that the fate of farmers getting MSP has been buried, the SKM added.

Courtesy: Newsclick

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