Govt approves 'Nai Manzil' scheme for minority youths

With a view to imparting integrated educational and livelihood training to youths from minority communities who are school-dropouts or educated in community institutions, the Centre has approved a national scheme, Nai Manzil, at a cost of Rs 650 crore for five years. The Union Minority Affairs Ministry said today that the sanction includes 50 per cent assistance, to the tune of Rs 325 crore, by World Bank which, it claimed, is impressed by the scheme and considering to recommend it to African countries faced with similar developmental challenges. "The Finance Ministry approved the scheme last weekend. "While approving the sanctioning of 50 per cent of the total cost of the project, the World Bank representative complimented the Ministry for the preparation of a project of this nature," the minority affairs ministry said in a statement here. The Nai Manzil scheme aims to benefit minority youths who are school-dropouts or educated in community educational institutions like madrasas by providing them with an integrated input of formal education (up to Class VIII or X) and skill training along with certification. "This will enable them to seek better employment in the organised sector and equip them for better lives. The scheme covers the entire country," the statement added. The minority affairs ministry, meanwhile, claimed that, impressed by the scheme, World Bank is considering recommending this project to countries in Africa that are faced with similar developmental challenges. The ministry is said to be working on operational details of the scheme with a view to improving the monitoring and evaluation. It is also looking to leveragr the efforts of already existing schemes with similar objectives.