Minorities Welfare Minister A M Shahjahan announced the measures in the Assembly on Thursday during consideration of the department’s demand for grants. The package places particular emphasis on keeping Muslim girls in education, expanding access to colleges and improving employment opportunities for minority youth.
Under the new higher education scheme, the government will meet tuition costs for Muslim female students admitted through the government quota in government, government-aided and self-financing institutions. Arts, science, engineering, medicine, agriculture and law courses will be covered.
An initial Rs 20 crore has been allocated for the programme. The move significantly widens the scope of state assistance because it extends support beyond government institutions to students securing government-quota seats in private self-financing colleges.
Shahjahan also expanded educational assistance for Muslim schoolgirls. A scholarship scheme covering girls in Classes 1 to 8 will now include students in Classes 9 and 10. Girls in the two additional classes will receive Rs 2,000 annually.
The expanded programme is expected to benefit 41,384 schoolgirls, with about Rs 8.28 crore earmarked for assistance. The measure is intended to reduce financial pressures at a stage when students face higher educational expenses and are approaching senior secondary education.
Higher education infrastructure will also be expanded through the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board. A dedicated Minorities Women’s Arts and Science College is to be established in Chennai, with an initial provision of Rs 2.45 crore.
The college forms part of an effort to increase higher education opportunities for women from minority communities in the state capital. Chennai already has government hostel facilities for minority college students, while the new institution will add a dedicated academic facility under the Waqf Board.
The government has separately proposed a Rs 100 crore revolving fund to provide interest-free financial assistance for developing properties connected with Muslim Waqf institutions and Christian religious organisations. Funds can be used for projects capable of generating income, including commercial buildings and community facilities.
The initiative is designed to help religious and charitable institutions make productive use of properties while creating recurring revenue for maintenance and welfare activities. Protection and improvement of properties belonging to minority religious institutions have remained an important concern for the Minorities Welfare Department.
A new headquarters building for the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board will also be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore. The government is additionally increasing financial support for the board and plans community halls in districts with substantial Muslim populations, with Rs 10 crore set aside for the programme.
Administrative capacity is being strengthened alongside the financial schemes. District Minority Welfare Officer posts will be created in 10 districts with sizeable minority populations at an estimated expenditure of Rs 4.45 crore. The officers are expected to oversee implementation of scholarships, economic assistance and other welfare programmes at district level.
Employment is another major component of the package. The government plans to provide modern skills training to 10,000 young people from minority communities over four years through the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation.
Training will be aligned with employment and self-employment opportunities and is expected to include information technology, automobiles, apparel designing, beauty and wellness, embroidery and agriculture. Programmes are planned across districts rather than being concentrated in major cities, widening access for young people from smaller towns and rural areas.
The measures follow proposals considered by the government ahead of the state Budget to expand education, employment and economic development programmes for minority communities. Shahjahan had earlier indicated that the department was seeking stronger financial support for scholarships, student accommodation, skills programmes and facilities associated with religious and charitable organisations.
Minority welfare policy has assumed greater importance as governments confront gaps in educational continuation and workforce participation among economically weaker households. Tamil Nadu already operates pre-matric, post-matric and professional-course assistance programmes subject to eligibility conditions, alongside hostels and economic development schemes.
