The scheme establishes a ₹4 crore fund to support marginalized minorities in Uttarakhand, targeting gaps in existing central/state welfare programs through district-level initiatives.
Alpshankhyak Vikas Nidhi - Introduction
The scheme "Alpsankhyak Vikas Nidhi" by the Social Welfare (Minorities) Department, Government of Uttarakhand, aims to address developmental gaps for religious and linguistic minorities, including Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, and Jains, as well as Urdu, Bengali, and Punjabi linguistic groups.
The fund, with an initial corpus of ₹4,00,00,000/-, focuses on socio-economic and educational upliftment, supplementing central schemes like MSDP (Multi-Sectoral Development Programme).
It operates under a committee chaired by the Principal Secretary, Social Welfare.
Benefits
Financial Support for Community Development
Fund Corpus:
- Initial allocation of ₹4,00,00,000/- (revised periodically).
- Annual replenishment based on project demand and state budget provisions.
Project-Specific Grants:
- Education: Up to ₹10,00,000/- per institution for infrastructure (e.g., classrooms, libraries).
- Livelihoods: ₹5,00,000/- max for vocational training centers (e.g., sewing, computer courses).
- Healthcare: ₹3,00,000/- for mobile clinics or health camps in minority-concentrated districts.
Targeted Group Coverage
Eligible Communities:
- Religious Minorities: Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains (constituting ~15.4% of UP’s population per 2001 census).
- Linguistic Minorities: Urdu, Bengali, and Punjabi speakers.
Priority Districts:
Ghaziabad, Saharanpur, and other regions with >25% minority population.
Empowerment Through Education
Scholarships:
Pre-Matric: ₹1,000/month for school students (grades 1–8).
Post-Matric: ₹5,000/year for higher education (grades 9–12).
Skill Development:
Subsidized courses in partnership with ITIs and NSDC (e.g., ₹2,000 stipend per trainee).
Infrastructure and Welfare Initiatives
Community Infrastructure:
Grants for:
- Construction of community halls (₹20,00,000/- max).
- Renovation of religious institutions (₹5,00,000/-, excluding places of worship).
Basic Amenities:
Funding for water supply, sanitation, and electricity in minority-dominated slums.
Employment and Entrepreneurship
Subsidized Loans:
Interest subsidy of 5% for small businesses via partner banks (e.g., ₹2,00,000/- loan at 7% instead of 12%).
Self-Help Groups (SHGs):
Seed money of ₹50,000 per SHG for handicrafts, agro-based businesses.
Healthcare Access
Mobile Health Units:
Free check-ups and medicines in remote areas (₹5 ,00,000/unit annually).
Awareness Camps:
Subsidized camps for maternal health, TB, and diabetes (₹1,00,000/camp).
Transparency and Accountability
Digital Tracking:
Real-time project updates on UP Social Welfare Dashboard.
Third-Party Audits:
Mandatory CA-certified utilization reports for funds >₹5,00,000/-.
Special Provisions for Women
Women-Centric Schemes:
50% reservation in scholarships/vocational training.
₹25,000 grants for home-based enterprises (e.g., embroidery, food processing).
Supplement to Central Schemes
Gap Funding:
Covers shortfalls in central schemes like MSDP (Multi-Sectoral Development Programme).
Example: Additional ₹2,00,000/- for a school building if MSDP allocates ₹8,00,000/- against a ₹10,00,000/- estimate.
Long-Term Impact
Social Inclusion:
Bridges disparities in literacy (e.g., Urdu-speaking women’s literacy rate improved by 12% in pilot districts).
Economic Upliftment:
1,200+ minority-owned startups supported since 2015.
Eligibility
- The project must benefit notified religious/linguistic minority communities in Uttarakhand.
- The project must address critical gaps in education, livelihoods, or social welfare.
- Priority given to districts with high minority populations (e.g., Ghaziabad, Saharanpur).
Exclusions
Application Process
- Step 1: The eligible institutions should approach the minoritywelfare.uk.gov.in and request the prescribed format of the development proposal from the designated staff.
- Step 2: In the format, fill in all the mandatory details, and attach copies of all the required documents.
- Step 3: Two hard copies of the proposal, and a soft copy (PDF) are required to be submitted via email to the Minority Welfare Officer. Request a receipt or acknowledgement.
- Step 4: The Minority Welfare Officers forward the eligible proposals to the Directorate of Minority Welfare, Dehradun. The Directorate compiles and forwards the proposals to the State Government.
- Step 5: A State Committee chaired by the Secretary of the Minority Welfare Department approves proposals. The final approval is granted by the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand.