New Delh: The Prime Minister’s new 15-Point Programme, implemented since 2006 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, aims to provide equal opportunities for six centrally notified minority communities by integrating various government welfare schemes.
According to Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs & Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, the programme ensures that 15% of outlays and targets in schemes across multiple ministries are earmarked for minorities. These schemes span education, employment, housing, healthcare, and financial inclusion. The key initiatives under the programme include the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Merit-cum-Means Based Scholarship Scheme, and National Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC) Loan Schemes under the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Other schemes include Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan under the Ministry of Education, Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana under the Ministry of Rural Development.
The programme also covers Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Priority Sector Lending by Banks and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana under the Department of Financial Services, POSHAN Abhiyaan under the Ministry of Women & Child Development, and the National Health Mission and Ayushman Bharat under the Department of Health & Family Welfare. Additionally, the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (Jal Jeevan Mission) under the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation is also part of the initiative.
The government monitors implementation at various levels to achieve full saturation of benefits, with the Ministry of Minority Affairs coordinating efforts across departments. At present, no modifications are proposed for the programme. Rijiju provided this information in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
PM’s 15-point plan: Welfare for all
