Articles 29 and 30 of the Indian Constitution contain provisions securing the rights of minorities and institutions run by minorities. Article 30 provides rights to minorities that all minority sections will have the right to establish educational institutions of their choice.
Education Of Minorities
In the National Education Policy 1986, in the interest of equality and social justice, a special thing has been said on the education of educationally backward minorities. In 1992, two new schemes were added to it.
Intensive Area Program for Educationally Backward Minorities
Madrasa Education Modernization Financial Assistance Scheme was started during 1993-94.
The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions was formed in 2004. Under which minority institutions can associate themselves with scheduled schools. Presently Delhi University, North Eastern Hill University, Assam University, Nagaland University and Mizoram University come in this list.
What Does The Sachar Committee Report Say?
In the year 2005, a committee headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar was constituted by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to understand the socio-economic and educational status of Muslims in the country.
On 30 November 2006, the famous report ‘Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community in India’ prepared by the Sachar Committee was tabled in the Lok Sabha.
This was probably the first time in independent India when a report prepared by a government committee regarding the social, economic and educational status of the country’s Muslims was presented in the Parliament.
The committee had given many suggestions to improve the condition of the Muslim community such as opening of schools, ITIs and polytechnic institutes in Muslim dominated areas, providing scholarships, opening bank branches, providing loan facilities, better utilization of Waqf properties etc., Equal Opportunity Commission, Formation of National Data Bank and Assessment and Monitoring Authority etc.
What Is MANF Fellowship Controversy?
The Maulana Azad National Fellowship given to minority students for higher education has been discontinued. In response to the question asked in the Parliament, the Central Government gave information about the closure of the scholarship. The government has argued that this scheme overlaps with other schemes, so it has been discontinued.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Smriti Irani was replying to a question by TN Prathapan, Congress MP from Thrissur, Kerala, in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Union Minister Smriti Irani said, ‘The MANF scheme was implemented by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and as per the data provided by the UGC, 6,722 candidates were selected under the scheme between 2014-15 and 2021-22 and Fellowships worth Rs 738.85 crore were disbursed during the same period.
Since the MANF scheme overlaps with various other fellowship schemes for higher education being implemented by the government and minority students are already covered under such schemes, the government has decided to discontinue the MANF scheme from 2022-23. Has decided .
When Was The MANF Fellowship Started?
The Maulana Azad National Fellowship was started in 2009, through which students from 6 notified minority communities – Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Parsi and Sikh – received financial assistance from the government for 5 years to pursue MPhil and PhD .
The scheme was launched as part of the measures to implement the recommendations of the Sachar Committee which studied the socio-economic condition of Muslims in India.
How Much Amount Was Given Under MANF?
Under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship Program, assistance was given only to those students who were pursuing M.Phil in Science, Engineering and Technology, Social Science or Humanity stream. or Ph.D. Was doing.
Under this, an amount of Rs 25,000 per month was available under JRF and Rs 28,000 per month under SRF for 2 years.
Which Students Got Scholarship?
Only students securing at least 55% marks in the Masters program were eligible for this scholarship.
The applicant should have belonged to the Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist or Parsi community and should have a minority certificate.
Apart from this, CSIR-NET / CBSE-NET should be qualified.
Must have enrolled in M. Phil/PhD course in a recognized university and passed NET-JRF or UGC exam.
Transgender community candidates were equally encouraged for this scholarship.
The family income of the applicants should not have exceeded 2.5 lakh per annum.
How Many MPs Protested?
Talking to the media on the reply received from the Union Minister, Congress MP TM Prathapan said, ‘This is injustice. With this move of the central government, many researchers will lose the chance to study further.
On Aaj Tak news channel’s Agenda Aaj Tak, MP Asaduddin Owaisi surrounded the government on this issue.
Congress MP from Kishanganj (Bihar) Dr. Javed Ahmed expressed his anger by writing a letter to Education Minister Smt. Smriti Irani.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi has also expressed his anger on social media.
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Sources: The Wire / The Hindu / Drishti IAS / Vikaspedia / DNA India / News 18 / Rojgar Samachar / News Buzz