Scholarship delays hurting poor minority students, says Parliament committee
The report pointed out that other departments, such as the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, have continued to implement schemes like the National Fellowship, National Overseas Scholarship, Free Coaching, and Residential Education without interruption. In contrast, these initiatives have been discontinued by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, resulting in the deprivation of educational opportunities for deserving minority students.The committee recommended that the ministry reconsider its decision to halt these crucial educational programs for minority groups.On the subject of livelihood initiatives, the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the ministry's unclear update regarding the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme, which consolidates five earlier programs. It noted that no expenditure was reported under this scheme during 2023-24 and urged the ministry to fully utilise the allocated budget for 2024-25 before the current Finance Commission cycle concludes in 2025-26.Lastly, despite most states adopting the Public Financial Management System and Single Nodal Agency protocols, the report highlighted ongoing delays in project approvals and execution under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram, pointing to persistent administrative bottlenecks.(With PTI inputs)- EndsMust Watch
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'Sometimes people are fond of sinking into despair,' he said. 2016: 'Innumerable initiatives, multiple tasks done' In his third speech, Modi refrained from new announcements and instead projected his government's record in delivery of his promises. 'I can present before you a very detailed account of work done and also multiple issues regarding the performance of the government. During its tenure of two years, the government has taken innumerable initiatives and done multiple tasks. If I start giving details about them, I am afraid I will end up talking for about a week.' 2017: 'Majestic India by 2022' His fourth speech from the Red Fort had only one announcement, the launch of a website to provide an account of the valour of the Gallantry Award winners in 2017. Modi chose to set out goals for a 'Majestic India' by 2022. These included pucca houses for the poor, doubling of farmers' earnings by 2022, enough opportunities for the youth and women, and an India which would be uncompromising with corruption and nepotism and be free from terrorism, communalism and casteism. 2018: 'We are breaking free' In his last Independence Day speech before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Modi dwelt on his 'assured stewardship' of the leap of faith taken by the electorate in 2014 in voting for him. Modi highlighted the 'gains' of the previous four years in areas such as toilet coverage, LPG coverage, electrification, optical fibre networks. He ended the speech with: 'Hum tod rahe hain zanjeerein… Hum badal rahe hain tasveerein (We are breaking the shackles… We are reshaping the picture).' 2019: 'Art 370, triple talaq moves our hallmark' After returning to power with a thumping majority, Modi used his 2019 Independence Day speech to articulate the decisions taken by his government in line with its ideological agenda — the abrogation of Article 370 (August 5, 2019) and a law banning instant triple talaq (August 1, 2019). 'What was the reason behind revocation of Article 370 and 35A? This is the hallmark of this government. We do not avoid problems, nor do we let them fester… The work that was not done in the last 70 years has been accomplished within 70 days of this new government coming to power,' the PM said. 2020: 'In Covid, need to become self-reliant' 'It is necessary for us to make India self-reliant. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Indians must resolve to become 'self-reliant'. 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We will work with the motto of Sabka saath, sabka vikaas, sabka vishwas aur sabka prayaas.' He also said that his government is working to free the people and the system of archaic laws. 'Earlier, the government was sitting in the driver's seat. Maybe it was needed at that time. But the time has changed now. Efforts have increased in the last seven years to free the people from the web of unnecessary laws and procedures.' 2022: 'Paanch pran', 'shed colonialism, nepotism' Modi framed his political argument on two pillars, spelling out a five-point 'pran (commitment/ resolve)' for 'Amrit Kaal', and to fight the twin challenges of 'corruption' and 'dynasty politics and nepotism'. Avoiding announcements on any social sector schemes, Modi focused on the big picture, ideas for the future, and urged people to embrace self-reliance in spirit and action. Elaborating on the 'paanch pran', the PM said the first was reaching the goal of a developed India by 2047, and second was 'removing any trace of a colonial mindset'. 2023: 'I will be back' Declaring that 'this India is unstoppable… tireless' and 'does not give up', Modi turned to the past and present with the promise to 'take decisions one after the other' for 'sarvajan hitay, sarvajan sukhay (welfare of all, happiness of all)', underlining that the 'Triveni' of 'demography, democracy, diversity' had the potential to build the country for 'the next 1,000 years'. In the last Independence Day speech before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Modi went on to call people his 'parivarjan' (family members) and flagged the 'parivarvaad' (dynastic rule) of the Opposition. He also said he would be back at the Red Fort the coming year to list the achievements of the country. He framed the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as a battle against 'evils' plaguing the country, saying 'now is not the time to shut your eyes' towards 'corruption, dynastic rule and appeasement'. 2024: 'Secular civil code, simultaneous polls needed' Last year, in the first Independence Day speech of his third term, PM Modi raised other core ideological issues of the BJP and Sangh, speaking of a 'secular civil code' instead of the existent 'communal civil code'. Despite the BJP being 32 short of a majority in the Lok Sabha and depending on allies to reach the halfway mark, Modi also made a fresh call for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. While Modi spent most of his speech reeling out statistics about the work done by his government in multiple sectors over the last decade, calling for faster reforms and promising to work harder in his third term, the few ideological and political points he made stood out.
