New Delhi, Dec 17 (KNO): The Government of India on Wednesday said that funds under minority welfare schemes are not allocated Union Territory-wise. It further said that Ladakh has received ₹15.98 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) during the last three financial years.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in a written reply informed Lok Sabha that ₹3.06 crore was released in 2023-24, while ₹12.92 crore was released in 2024-25 for Ladakh, adding that no funds were released in 2022-23.
The Ministry made it clear that PMJVK is a demand-driven scheme aimed to create community infrastructure in minority-concentrated areas, in sectors like education, health, skill development and livelihood.
It further said, "under the PM VIKAS scheme, no expenditure has been made so far in Ladakh as no project proposals have been received from the UT administration."
The government also said that artisans from Ladakh have participated in Lok Samvardhan Parvs, which was organised to promote minority crafts and provide market and credit linkages.
Pertinently, the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has allocated ₹10 crore each for 2024-25 and 2025-26 for Ladakh after the UT nominated SIDCO as its State Channelising Agency.
Against this, ₹ 1 crore was drawn in 2024-25, while ₹4.19 crore has been utilised in the current financial year, said the Ministry—(KNO)