New Delhi, June 11 As a step towards empowerment of minorities, the government will provide 5 crore scholarships over the next five years, 50 per cent of which will be for girl students, Minorities Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday.

Naqvi made the remarks while chairing the governing body and general body meetings of Maulana Azad Education Foundation here.

"To ensure socio-economic-educational empowerment of minorities especially girls through "3E"- Education, Employment and Empowerment, various scholarships including pre-matric, post-matric, merit-cum-means will be provided to 5 crore students in the next five years, which will include 50 per cent girl students," Naqvi said.

He said this includes more than 10 lakh Begum Hazrat Mahal Girls Scholarship in the next five years for economically weaker sections.

Naqvi said Modi government has created an atmosphere of "healthy inclusive growth".

"The government led by Prime Minister Modi has proved to be a "government of Iqbal (authority), Insaaf (justice) and Imaan (integrity)". The Modi Government is a government committed to "Samaveshi Vikas, Sarvsparshi Vishwas" (inclusive growth with trust)," he said.

He said that school dropout girls from the minority communities will be linked to education and employment by providing them "bridge courses" from reputed educational institutions of the country.

The minister said madrassa teachers across the country will be given training from various institutions in mainstream subjects such as Hindi, English, Maths, Science, Computer so that they can impart mainstream education. This programme will be launched next month.

Naqvi said that free-coaching for central and state administrative services, banking services, staff selection commission, railways and other various competitive services will be provided to economically weak students belonging to minority communities - Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Parsi.

H said that schools, colleges, ITIs, polytechnics, girl's hostels, Gurukul type residential schools, common service centres are being constructed on war-footing under Pradhanmantri Jan Vikas Karykram (PMJVK) in those areas where these educational infrastructure has not been development yet.

Naqvi said "Padho-Badho" awareness campaign will be launched across the country to encourage education, specially among girls from the minority community with special focus in areas where people don't send their children to schools due to socio-economic reasons.

The campaign will be launched in 60 minority concentrated districts of the country in the first phase.

Government to provide 5 crore scholarships over 5 years to empower minorities