The Ministry of Minority Affairs has detailed its welfare schemes for six centrally notified minority communities (Buddhists, Christians, Jains, Muslims, Parsis and Sikhs) across India, including West Bengal, irrespective of topographic conditions. The ministry implements three primary schemes: Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS), an integrated Central Sector Scheme that combines five erstwhile livelihood schemes (Seekho Aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni and Nai Manzil) into four components covering skilling and training, women leadership and entrepreneurship, education, and infrastructure development through convergence with PMJVK. Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme focused on creating community infrastructure in Minority Concentration Areas across sectors including health, education, skill development, women-centric projects, drinking water and sanitation, sports, renewable energy and other community infrastructure. The National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) implements concessional credit schemes through State Channelising Agencies, with Credit Line-1 (CL-1) available for persons having annual family income up to ₹3.00 lakh and Credit Line-2 (CL-2) for those with annual family income up to ₹8.00 lakh. In West Bengal, the West Bengal Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (WBMDFC) serves as the designated State Channelising Agency implementing NMDFC schemes for eligible minority beneficiaries including hill-based communities. This information was provided by Union Minister of Minority Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on August 10, 2026.
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