‘Over 1.81 lakh minority scholarships sanctioned in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency since 2019’

New Delhi, Aug 5: The Union Government on Wednesday informed Parliament that 1,81,650 minority scholarships under different Central schemes were sanctioned in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency between 2019-20 and 2025-26, while several infrastructure and development works have been undertaken at Waqf properties across Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Replying to an unstarred question by Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, said the Ministry implemented Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Schemes for six notified minority communities—Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis—across the country till 2021-22. He said details of scholarships sanctioned in the Baramulla parliamentary constituency from 2019-20 to 2025-26 have been placed in the annexure.
According to the reply, 1,53,138 Pre-Matric scholarships were sanctioned with financial assistance of Rs 33.13 crore, 24,781 Post-Matric scholarships with assistance of Rs 15.54 crore, and 3,731 Merit-cum-Means scholarships amounting to Rs 9.69 crore during the period.
The year-wise figures show that in 2019-20, 75,323 Pre-Matric, 16,350 Post-Matric and 904 Merit-cum-Means scholarships were sanctioned. In 2020-21, the numbers stood at 43,890, 5,038 and 1,186, respectively, while 33,387 Pre-Matric, 3,105 Post-Matric and 1,214 Merit-cum-Means scholarships were sanctioned in 2021-22.
During 2022-23, only renewal payments were made, benefiting 538 Pre-Matric, 288 Post-Matric and 427 Merit-cum-Means students. No scholarships were sanctioned under these schemes during 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, as the schemes were discontinued after 2021-22 except for pending renewals.
Replying to another part of the question regarding Waqf properties, Rijiju informed the House that several development projects have been completed or taken up at Ziyarat Baba Payam-ud-Din Reshi (RA), Baramulla and Tangmarg. These include restoration of Devri stone flooring and entrance staircase, construction of a modern kitchen, dining hall, cement concrete drain, toilet blocks, ablution block, guest house and double-storeyed shop complex, installation of fencing panels, landscaping, ornamental woodwork, polycarbonate roofing over the shrine sanctum, face-lifting of Jamia Masjid and other allied civil works.
The minister further said Waqf development works have also been undertaken at Jamia Masjid Gulmarg, where construction of the mosque has been taken up. At Ahami Sharief, Bandipora, works include construction of a kitchen, demolition of dilapidated structures, construction of a new office building, shops at the shrine entrance and chain-link fencing for the school, besides other minor works executed through stage contracts since 2022.
He added that other minor Waqf works have also been carried out since 2022 at Ziyarat Syed Janbar Wali (RA), Baramulla; Ziyarat Syed Malik Bukhara (RA), Nadihal; Ziyarat Zeethi Shah Wali, Drugmulla Kupwara; Ziyarat Baba Shukur-ud-Din (RA), Watlab Sopore; and Hanfia Islamia Waqf Model School, Asham Bandipora, the House was informed. (KNO)