JOIN USLacking big ticket announcements, the NDA’s maiden budget though offered to minority communities an additional amount of Rs 100 crore for modernisation of madarsas and a programme for the upgradation of skills and training in ancestral arts.
In his budget speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told the Lower House that a programme for the upgradation of skills and training in ancestral arts for development of the minorities called “Upgradation of Traditional Skills in Arts, Resources and Goods” would be launched to preserve the traditional arts and crafts which have a rich heritage.
Besides, he also provided funds for modernisation of madarsas.
The BJP, which accuses Congress of indulging in “appeasement politics”, in its 2014 election manifesto had promised providing “equal opportunities” to all while acknowledging that minorities, especially the Muslim community, continued to be caught in poverty.
The party had promised upgradation of educational systems and madarsas and augmenting artisanship and entrepreneurial skills, which it did in the budget, besides other programmes such as ensuring that the young and the girl child get education and jobs without discrimination. Earlier, P Chidamabaram, while presenting the Interim Budget in February had given details of the funds spent on projects for minorities.