PM’s 15-point programme for minorities remains behind target

May 12 (PTI) New Delhi

As the UPA government completes its tenure, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s ambitious programme for educational development of minorities remains much behind target.
Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme, started in 2006 after the Sachar Committee found the social and economic condition of Muslim minorities poor, was aimed at, among other things, providing them the access to quality education.

According to a report compiled by the HRD Ministry, the implementation of different programmes under the 15-Point Programme has been poor.

Against the target to appoint 21,945 sanctioned teachers in schools in minority-concentrated areas, only 6,972 could be recruited by December 31, 2008, the report said, putting the percentage of achievement at 31.

Prime Minister had announced the Programme as a concerted measure of the government to ensure educational and economic development of the minorities.

Similarly, the government had set a target to set up 4,404 new primary schools in the minority-concentrated districts under the flagship programme of Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan (SSA). The report found that 3,226 have been actually constructed by December 31, last year.

PTI