Underutilisation of welfare schemes for minorities is a subject for analysis
Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, on Thursday said that the utilisation of welfare schemes for minorities has been poor in the state and called for efforts to create awareness about the schemes. He interacted with beneficiaries of the schemes of National and Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) and the state government at a programme at Cavelossim.
He said he deliberately opted for a small and interactive session to understand the ground realities and challenges faced by beneficiaries. Rijiju assured the people that their feedback would be carefully examined and reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, NMDFC and the Goa State Minorities Finance & Development Corporation (GSMFDC) to making the schemes more accessible, responsive and beneficial to minority communities. He made it clear that the ministry’s objective is to ensure that minority communities benefit from development initiatives, particularly in the areas of self-employment, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. Rijiju said he would discuss with the state government initiatives to ensure better utilisation of, and awareness about, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram, the ministry’s flagship scheme for minority welfare and infrastructure development, in the state. His statement seems to indicate a disconnect between government policy and the socio-economic realities facing minority communities in Goa.
Lack of awareness is not necessarily the sole reason for the low uptake. The managing director of GSMFDC, Ajit Panchwadkar, said that more than 81 awareness camps had been conducted and that they have been promoting self-employment. There may be various reasons why the response to minority welfare schemes is poor. Many national schemes are designed with a one-size-fits-all approach. If the specific financial products offered by the NMDFC or other bodies do not align with the actual economic needs of Goa’s minority communities (which may have unique profiles, perhaps skewed towards the service, tourism or small-scale traditional sectors), they will have to look outside the box. For such schemes to succeed, local community leaders and local bodies must be involved. It is a common observation that formal business ventures have not always been the preferred pathway for certain communities in Goa. This is not a lack of aptitude, but often a matter of cultural, economic and institutional priorities. To change this, a shift in strategy is needed. The state must move towards a single-window system where a beneficiary can apply, get verified and receive assistance without having to run around. This cannot be restricted only to certain schemes but must apply to all departments.
There’s an interesting dimension to this issue. This relates to a question that is often asked. When self-employment opportunities and jobs are available in Goa, why is there migration of mainly minority community members? There is, however, no straight answer to this. Migration is not just about money; it is about quality of life, mainly for their children. Even professionals have migrated, and their common line of reasoning is: the future is uncertain for their children in Goa. Their contention is that one can get jobs only through political influence or money. Whatever the reasons, their community leaders should have tried to analyse and seek a solution to this trend long before. It is understandable that the government would not officially intervene. So, when the government comes up with schemes for minority welfare, why are there no takers? On the other hand, migration continues. The answer, however, is layered. Government agencies and local community leaders will have to work together to find an answer.
