Recently, the Minister of Minority Affairs inaugurated the ‘Sanskritik Sadbhav Mandap’, a multi-purpose community center in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. This community center will serve many purposes, including socio-economic-cultural activities, skill development training, sports activities, and relief operations during emergencies such as COVID-19. It is a project under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK).
Origins and Restructuring of PMJVK
The PMJVK is a reformed and renamed iteration of the preceding Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP), conceived by the Government in 2008-09 as a centrally sponsored scheme. It was initially launched in 90 Minority Concentration Districts across the country. However, to refine its focus on targeted communities, the scheme’s unit of planning for implementation was changed in 2013-14 to Minority Concentration Blocks (MCB), Minority Concentration Towns (MCT), and Clusters of Minority Concentration Villages (COV). This restructuring was based on the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, led by Ramesh Bais, which submitted its report on ‘Implementation of Scheme of Multi-Sectoral Development Programme/Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram’ on August 9th, 2018.
Implementation and Funding
The PMJVK, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, is planned for implementation during the remaining term of the 14th Finance Commission, i.e., until March 31st, 2020. The PMJVK will continue to be implemented in MCBs, MCTs, and COVs. A new area, Minority Concentration District Headquarters (MCD Hq), has been included for PMJVK implementation. These areas, i.e., MCBs, MCTs, MCD Hqs, and COVs, are collectively referred to as Minority Concentration Areas (MCA).
Selection Criteria for PMJVK
The selection of areas under the PMJVK is based on a substantial population of minority communities, i.e., 25% of the minority population in the area and backwardness parameters. These include literacy rate, female literacy rate, work participation rate, and female work participation rate, along with indicators of basic amenities in the area below the national average. The data for this selection is derived from Census 2011 records. Currently, six communities are recognized as minority communities under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992: Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis), and Jains.
Growth-oriented Schemes for Minority Communities
Apart from PMJVK, there are several other schemes aimed at inclusive growth for minority communities. These include Seekho Aur Kamao, Usttad, Garib Nawaz Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Nai Manzil, Nai Roshni, and Begum Hazrat Mahal Girls scholarships.
Minorities in India: Constitutional and Parliamentary Provisions
The term “Minority” is not explicitly defined in the Indian Constitution, but it does recognize religious and linguistic minorities. Article 29 grants protections to citizens residing in any part of India having a distinct language, script, or culture. According to Article 30, all minorities have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. The insertion of Article 350-B through the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956, provided for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities appointed by the President of India.
Under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, a minority is defined as “a community notified as such by the Central government”. The act allows the government to establish the National Commission for Minorities, comprising a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and five members from minority communities.
Minorities Right Day in India
The National Commission for Minorities observes December 18th annually as Minorities Rights Day. This day marks the adoption of the “Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities” by the United Nations in 1992. According to this declaration, states should protect and promote the identity of minorities within their respective territories.