5 days ago
Tamil Nadu Unveils Welfare Measures for Minority Communities
Tamil Nadu announced several programs to support people from minority communities.
Muslim female students in many undergraduate courses can have their tuition fees paid if they enter through the government quota.
This applies to courses such as medicine, engineering, law and agriculture.
More Muslim schoolgirls in Classes nine and 10 will also receive scholarships of Rs 2,000 each year.
A new women’s arts and science college will be opened in Chennai.
The state will create a large fund to provide interest-free loans for projects on Wakf and Christian religious properties.
Training will be offered to 10,000 minority young people in useful job skills.
The government says these measures are intended to improve education, employment and family incomes.
Undergraduate tuition fees will be fully covered for Muslim female students admitted through the government quota, with an initial allocation of Rs 20 crore.
The Wakf Board scholarship has been extended to Muslim girls in Classes nine and 10, providing Rs 2,000 annually to 41,384 students.
A new Minorities Women’s Arts and Science College will be established in Chennai with a starting grant of Rs 2.45 crore.
A Rs 100 crore revolving fund will provide interest-free loans for income-generating assets on Muslim Wakf and Christian religious properties.
Skill-development training in areas including IT, automobiles and agriculture will reach 10,000 minority youth over four years.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Minister for Minorities Welfare A M Shahjahan announced the measures for the state’s minority communities.
- What
- The government announced education support, scholarships, a new college, an interest-free loan fund and skill-development training.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, including Chennai and districts across the state.
- When
- The measures were announced on Thursday during the debate on demands for grants for the Minorities Welfare Department.
- Why
- The stated aims are to improve female literacy, expand higher-education access, develop income-generating assets, promote self-employment and raise family living standards.
Key facts
- Undergraduate tuition support
- Full tuition coverage for Muslim female students admitted under the government quota in specified undergraduate courses; initial allocation of Rs 20 crore.
- Extended scholarship
- Muslim girls in Classes nine and 10 will receive Rs 2,000 annually; 41,384 schoolgirls are expected to benefit at a cost of Rs 8.28 crore.
- New college
- The Tamil Nadu Wakf Board will establish a Minorities Women’s Arts and Science College in Chennai with a starting grant of Rs 2.45 crore.
- Revolving fund
- A Rs 100 crore fund will offer interest-free loans for income-generating assets on Muslim Wakf and Christian religious properties.
- Youth training
- Skill-development training will be provided to 10,000 minority youth over four years.
- Training subjects
- Modules will include Information Technology, Automobile, Apparel Designing, Beauty and Wellness, Embroidery and Agriculture.
Quotes
A M Shahjahan
Tamil Nadu Minister for Minorities Welfare
“the state will set up a Rs 100 crore revolving fund to offer interest-free loans aimed at developing income-generating assets-such as commercial complexes and marriage halls-on Muslim Wakf and Christian religious properties”
thehansindia.com
“Training modules will cover Information Technology, Automobile, Apparel Designing, Beauty and Wellness, Embroidery, and Agriculture across all districts to promote self-employment and elevate family living standards”
thehansindia.com
