Tenfold hike in minority welfare spending: UPA

The expenditure on minorities' welfare has seen a ten-fold increase during the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) tenure, says a handbook highlighting the achievements of the government.

The government spending on centrally sponsored schemes for minorities went up from Rs.143.53 crore in 2006-07 to Rs.1,593.23 crore in 2012-13, it said, adding that 15 percent of all priority sector lending from banks now reaches minorities to help them start and expand small businesses.

The UPA's report card further said that during 2012-13, more than 620 primary and upper primary schools were constructed or opened, 25,465 additional classrooms were built and 6,207 teachers sanctioned in blocks and districts with substantial minority population.

Plus, there are various scholarship schemes under the prime minister's new 15-point programme and under the multi-sectoral development programme (MSDP), among other measures to help minority students, it said.

The MSDP was implemented in 90 identified minority concentration areas in 20 states and UTs during 2012-13, it said.

Under the plan, construction of 3.15 lakh Indira Awas Yojana houses, 2,838 health centres, 29,480 anganwadi centres, 50,696 drinking water supply projects, 15,609 additional classrooms and 698 school buildings were sanctioned besides 113 industrial training institutes and 44 polytechnics and 485 hostels for boys and girls were sanctioned, said the report.

During the past one year, Rs.10 crore was released to train 36,950 minority women through 64 organisations in 12 states, the report added.