Recognizing a decade of PM Modi’s unwavering commitment to protect Minority Rights and Empowerment .....by Satnam Singh Sandhu
Chandigarh: For the first time in history, an Indian priest from Kerala, George Jacob Koovakad, was elevated directly to the esteemed rank of Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Francis through the ordination ceremony held at the Vatican City on 7 December.
This auspicious event was attended by a Multi-Faith delegation, including myself as a Sikh which was sent by the Union government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to represent the pride and happiness of the people of India showing his strong bond and affection he shares with the Christian community.
The same was visible when PM Modi hosted the 2023 Christmas celebration with the Christian community at his residence, joined special Easter prayers at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in New Delhi or became the first Indian PM in over 20 years to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican City and invite His Holiness to visit India.
Care for Minority Communities
As Minorities Rights Day 2024 is being observed on 18 December in India to spread awareness about the need to protect the rights of minority communities, it is essential to acknowledge PM Modi's genuine care for minority communities with a commitment to the principles of equality, justice, and inclusivity.
Be it the decision to bring the law to ban Triple Talaq for the empowerment of Muslim women, implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to provide a haven to persecuted minorities or open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor after seven decades by understanding the sentiments of the Sikh community, PM Modi’s actions speak louder than words.
The Modi government has ensured the protection of minority rights in India through a series of policies, legislations and decisions over the past decade. The passage of Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act in 2019 is a historic step to criminalise the practice of Triple Talaq (instant divorce) among Muslims which has led to a decline of about 96 per cent in divorce cases in the community.
By introducing Lady Without Mehram (LWM) category for Haj pilgrimage, Modi government has so far helped 5,162 women performed Hajj without a mahram (male guardian).
Keeping with India’s inclusive traditions and longstanding commitment to human rights, the Modi government has introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which makes getting Indian citizenship easier for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, and Parsis from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Besides granting citizenship to 5,862 Sikhs and Christians persecuted from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, CAA is also giving justice and rights to millions who took refuge in the country from 1947 to 2014.
Priority to Education
Beyond the politics of appeasement, the Union Government under PM Modi’s leadership has shown dedication for implementation of schemes and initiatives for the welfare and empowerment of minority communities, which make up about 20 per cent of the country’s population, without any discrimination during the past 10 years and the results are commendable.
Prioritising the education of minority communities, the Modi government has made an endeavour to lay the foundation for a future where diversity is not only accepted but embraced.
A total of 3.08 crore scholarships were approved by the Modi government for students from six notified minority communities – Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis – between 2015 and 2021. Of these students, about 50 per cent beneficiaries are girl students.
The Modi government has upgraded more than 40,000 madrassas through the Scheme for Providing Quality Education to Madrassas (SPQEM) and equipped them with the latest employment-oriented education facilities.
No surprise, now over 76 per cent students of Muslim community, which has the lowest literacy rate of 68.54 per cent as per the Census 2011, continue to the next level of education after the elementary level as there is a significant decline in school dropout rate among the minorities especially Muslim girls.
School dropout rate among Muslim girls which was more than 70 percent before 2014, has now come down to less than about 27 percent and consistent efforts are on to make it zero percent sooner to later.
The literacy rate for Muslims which was 68.54 per cent in 2011 has improved to 77.7 per cent according to a survey conducted by Periodic Labour Force in 2021-2022.
In the new Narendra Modi government, the budget of the Ministry of Minority Affairs has increased by Rs 574.31 crore to Rs 3,183.24 crores in 2024-25, surpassing the revised estimate of Rs 2,608.93 crore in 2023-24.
The budget includes Rs. 1,575.72 crores for education empowerment of minority communities through schemes like Pre-Matric Scholarships and Post-Matric Scholarship for eligible students belonging to minority communities.
A large number of youth belonging to minority communities are now being selected for civil services and successfully clearing competitive examinations, the percentage of minority communities in Central government jobs which was below five percent before 2014, it has now crossed 10 per cent, showing the difference made by the government policies at the ground level.
Economic Empowerment
Economic empowerment is another vital component in the fight for minority rights and the Modi government has provided equal opportunities for economic growth ensures that no community is left behind.
Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme, Centrally Sponsored Infrastructure Support Scheme, is proving to be a milestone towards socio-economic and educational empowerment of minorities as skill development training and employment opportunities have been provided to over 21.5 lakh people from the minority community, through various skill development and employment-oriented programmes such as “Hunar Haat”, “Seekho aur Kamao”, “Nai Manzil”, “Nai Roushni”, “Ustad” and “Garib Nawaz Self-Employment Scheme” in the just eight years.
The National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has achieved significant credit disbursement, reaching a record high of Rs 881.70 crore in the fiscal year 2022-23, benefiting over 2.05 lakh beneficiaries. Till now, NMDFC has disbursed over Rs 8,300 crore, benefiting more than 22.5 lakh beneficiaries, with a majority of them being women.
Under the Pradhanmantri Jan Vikas Karykram programme aimed at plugging development deficits in around 1,300 minority concentration areas, the Modi government has sanctioned projects worth Rs 18257.89 crore since 2014-15.
Over 49,000 major projects sanctioned under PMJVK include 38 Degree Colleges, 177 Residential Schools, 1,550 School Buildings, 23,094 Additional Class Rooms, 14,312 Teaching Aid and Smart Classrooms, 691 Hostels, 27 Working Women Hostels, 94 ITI Buildings, 14 Polytechnics, 31 Skill Centres, 2324 Health Projects, 1 Unani Medical College, 413 Sadhbhav Mandaps, 1 Sadbhav Kendra, 170 Common Service Centres, 553 Market Sheds, 12 Hunar Hubs, 6742 Sanitation projects and 91 Sports Facilities.
Equal Benefits
Minorities have also been immensely benefitted from various schemes of the Modi government. About 22 to 37 percent beneficiaries of “Mudra Yojana”, “Jan Dhan Yojana”, “Ayushman Bharat Yojana”, “Kisaan Samman Nidhi”, “Ujjwala Yojana”, “Swacch Bharat Mission”, drinking water and electricity schemes belong to the weaker and backward Minorities.
For instance, out of the 2.31 crore houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 31 percent were allocated in 25 minority-dominated areas.
About 33 percent of beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi were minorities. Out of the nine crore beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, 37 percent were from minority communities.
Due Recognition
PM Modi has also ensured due recognition to members of minority communities. Of the 1127 Padma Awards given between 2015 and 2024, as many as 169 awards have been given to deserving members of the minorities communities belonging to lower castes, backward regions, and non-elite backgrounds.
Out of these 169 awardees of all the minority communities, highest number of 63 Padma awards belong to Muslim community, 26 to Sikh community, 22 to Buddhist community, 29 to Christian community, 17 to Jain community and 10 to Parsi community.
Equitable Future
The Modi government has ensured that the socio-economic-educational, religious and other rights of minorities are absolutely safe and secure in the country.By creating an environment that equal opportunities, skills development, and entrepreneurship, PM Modi is laying the foundation for a more equitable future.
Under PM Modi's leadership, all minority communities are united in their efforts to drive the country's development and elevate it to new heights. Let us commit to working together, side by side, for a brighter and more harmonious future.
December 16, 2024
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Satnam Singh Sandhu, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)
satnam.sandhu@sansad.nic.in
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