Allocation for education scheme for madrasas and minorities comes down from Rs. 160 crore in 2022-23 Union Budget to Rs. 10 crore in 2023-24 Union Budget.
“Are we really talking about inclusive education as envisaged under the National Education Policy?” asks HAQ Centre for Child Rights.
The child rights NGO also alleged that the massive reduction of 69.61% for pre-matric scholarship for minorities amplifies concerns of education of children belonging to minority communities.
Since 2014, there has been a steady decline in the budget allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Last year end, the Union government announced to discontinue the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) scheme and limit the pre-matric scholarship scheme meant for backward and minority communities to students of Classes 9 and 10. The decision by Narendra Modi government led to instant uproar from the students, researchers and academics from minority communities.
This is a developing story
