Page 76 - NIS-English 16-31 May 2022

Towards Duty
Duty
Towards
Path
Path
Years
Years
A PLETHORA OF GROWTH

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITIES

t is necessary to develop at all levels for the EMPOWERMENT VIA EDUCATION
country's overall prosperity. Today, the country
Iis also moving in that direction, with the goal of n Approximately 5 crore and 20 lakh students from six
ensuring that all citizens benefit from the country's notified minority communities (Parsi, Jain, Buddhist,
development without discrimination. Today, the Sikh, Christian, and Muslim) have been provided pre-
country is on a path where every citizen can be sure matric, post-matric, merit-based, and Begum Hazrat
of their constitutionally guaranteed rights as well Mahal Girls Scholarships over the last eight years.
as their future. Today, the country is on a path in Female students account for more than half of all
which no one is left behind because of their religious scholarship recipients.
beliefs. Everyone should be given equal opportunities n The dropout rate among Muslim female students has
to advance, so that everyone can achieve their goals. decreased: There was a time when more than 70% of
Today, the schemes that the country is implementing Muslim girls in our country dropped out of school. This
for the poor is reaching every section without any type of dropout of daughters has always been a major
distinction of religion.
impediment to the advancement of Muslim society. Over
the last 70 years, the situation has been such that more
USE OF WAQF PROPERTIES than 70% of Muslim daughters have been unable to
For the first time since independence, the Prime complete their studies. It has now dropped to
Minister Narendra Modi-led government has fully around 30%.
funded the development of schools, colleges,
hospitals, community halls, and other infrastructure n Previously, thousands of Muslim daughters dropped out
on waqf land through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas due to a lack of toilets. The situation is changing now.
Karyakram (PMJVK) for the weaker sections. There The government is making efforts to keep the drop rate
are approximately 74,875 registered waqf properties. of Muslim daughters to a minimum. A "Bridge Course" is
The digitization of all state waqf boards is complete. being offered at Aligarh Muslim University for students
GIS/GPS technology has been used to map more who have dropped out of school. The number of female
than 95 percent of Waqf properties. students at Aligarh Muslim University has increased
by 35%.
74 New India Samachar May 16-31, 2022