15 point Programme for minorities

15 point Programme for minorities is a controversial programme approved by Indian government in 2006 for welfare of religious minorities.It has ran into controversies with the principal opposition party Bharatiya Janata Party charging the UPA government of communal budgeting, minority appeasment, religious discrimination and vote bank politics.The Central government has allocated 15% of plan outlays for implementation of the 15 points.

15 Points

#Equitable availability of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
#Improving access to School Education
#Greater resources for teaching Urdu
#Modernizing Madarsa Education
#Scholarships for meritorious students from minority communities
#Improving educational infrastructure through the Maulana Azad Education Foundation.
#Self-Employment and Wage Employment for the poor
#Upgradation of skill through technical training
#Enhanced credit support for economic activities
#Recruitment to State and Central Services
#Equitable share in rural housing scheme
#Improvement in condition of slums inhabited by minority communities.
#Prevention of communal incidents
#Prosecution for communal offences
#Rehabilitation of victims of communal riots.

Bharatiya Janata Party led state governments has opposed the allocation of resources based on religion and called it communal budgeting and a ploy to divide the society on religious lines. They have contended that poverty has no religion. The Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi opposed the plan in the meeting of the National Development Council.He said

"The New 15-Point Programme that focuses on earmarking certain outlays of various developmental schemes and programmes of the Government of India amongst the eligible beneficiaries, based on their minority status, should be reviewed in the interest of maintaining the social fabric of the nation.Such discrimination, amongst the eligible beneficiaries, for flow of funds based on minority status, will not help the cause in taking people of India together on the path of development,”

He asked the Prime Minister how was “religion important” for a government strategy on inclusive growth.Wondering “what has gone wrong in the previous plans” that such an approach should be adopted.He said “poverty has no religion” and only poverty should determine allocations in the Plan.

External links

* [http://ncm.nic.in/points_programme.html]
* [http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayitems.asp?id=SEC20071222084723&eTitle=Columns&rLink=0]
* [http://www.centralchronicle.com/20071225/2512301.htm]
* [http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/BJP_CMs_deride_plan_to_divide_social_fabric/articleshow/2636115.cms]
* [http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/18796.asp]