Minorities
- Minorities include people belonging to Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Jains.
- They have been notified as minority communities under National Commission of Minorities Act, 1992.
- They constitute about 19% of the population of the country.
Constitutional Provisions
- Article 25 – Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.
- Article 26 – Freedom to manage religious affairs.
- Article 28 – Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions
- Article 29 – Right to conserve the distinct language, script or culture of any citizen in India.
- Article 30 – Right of all religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
- Article 350 (B) – President shall appoint a Special Officer for linguistic minorities.
Issues faced by them
- Discrimination and Prejudice: Minorities often experience discrimination and prejudice based on their ethnic, religious, linguistic, or cultural background. They may face systemic inequalities, social exclusion, and limited access to opportunities.
- Limited Access to Education: Minority communities may have limited access to quality education due to factors such as poverty, lack of resources, language barriers, and discrimination within educational institutions. This can perpetuate a cycle of disadvantage and hinder social and economic progress.
- Economic Inequality: Minorities often face economic disparities and limited access to employment, entrepreneurship opportunities, and financial resources. Discrimination in the labour market and disparities in wealth distribution can contribute to persistent economic inequalities.
- Political Underrepresentation: Minorities may face challenges in achieving political representation and participation. They may have limited representation in legislative bodies, government positions, and decision-making processes, which can marginalised their interests and concerns.
- Social Exclusion and Segregation: Minority communities can experience social exclusion and segregation, leading to limited social integration and interaction with the majority population. This can impact their access to public services, healthcare, housing, and other essential resources.
- Religious and Cultural Intolerance: Religious and cultural minorities often face intolerance, persecution, and restrictions on practising their beliefs or customs. This can lead to violations of their human rights, including freedom of religion and expression.
- Violence and Hate Crimes: Minority communities may be targets of violence, hate crimes, and ethnic or communal tensions. Discrimination, prejudice, and underlying social tensions can escalate into acts of violence and pose threats to the safety and well-being of minority individuals and communities.
Welfare Schemes
- Padho Pardesh: It provides ‘interest subsidy’ for minority students for overseas studies at Masters, M.Phil. and Ph.D. Level.
- Naya Savera: Financial assistance is provided for free coaching in Coaching Institutions to prepare minority students for competitive examinations for private and Government jobs.
- USTAAD: The Scheme aims at upgrading Skills and Training in preservation of traditional Ancestral Arts/Crafts of minorities.
- Nai Manzil: To engage constructively with poor minority youth and help them obtain sustainable and gainful employment opportunities.
- PM Jan Vikas Karyakram: To improve socio-economic conditions of minorities and provide basic amenities and reduce imbalances in comparison with national average in the identified Minority Concentration Areas.