House Panel Reports Significant Drop in Minority Affairs Ministry Spending Due to Discontinued Schemes
Significant Decline in Minority Affairs Spending: A Parliamentary Report
NEW DELHI: A recent report from a parliamentary panel has revealed a worrying trend: the actual expenditure of the Ministry of Minority Affairs has notably decreased in recent years. This decline is attributed to the discontinuation of several key schemes, including the free coaching initiative, the ‘Nai Udaan’ program, and the scheme for providing education in madrasas (SPEMM). The newly introduced PM-VIKAS for the fiscal year 2023-24 also faced hurdles in implementation.
Budget Allocation and Utilization
The Departmental Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment highlighted that while substantial funds were allocated—Rs 2,612 crore for 2022-23 and Rs 2,608 crore for 2023-24—the ministry could only utilize Rs 837 crore and Rs 1,032 crore, respectively. The trend did not show improvement in 2024-25, with only Rs 919 crore spent from a budgetary allocation of Rs 3,183 crore by December 31, 2024.
Streamlining for Better Utilization
The committee, chaired by BJP Lok Sabha member P C Mohan, noted that the ministry is in the process of harmonizing these plans with other ministries, such as Social Justice and Empowerment and Tribal Affairs. This streamlining aims to prevent misuse and ensure effective utilization of the funds. The committee urged the ministry to expedite approvals to fully utilize the allocated budget of Rs 3,350 crore for 2025-26.
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