Rijiju was speaking during an interaction with beneficiaries organised by the Goa State Minorities Finance and Development Corporation (GSMFDC) in collaboration with the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) at Cavelossim.
“In the last few years, I have observed that Goa has not utilised much of the available funds. I will be speaking to the Chief Minister also,” Rijiju said.
Describing Goa as a “small but very beautiful and vibrant State”, the Union minister said even schemes with a relatively small number of beneficiaries could make a significant difference in the lives of needy people.
He highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), the Ministry's flagship programme for infrastructure development in minority-concentrated areas.
“The flagship programme is PMJVK. We fund infrastructure development for minorities and support projects based on the needs of the community,” he said.
Rijiju also referred to the PM Vikas scheme, which focuses on skill development and entrepreneurship, and said discussions would be held with the Goa government to improve participation by minority communities.
“Goa is a very different kind of composition. We want minority communities here to take the benefits of skilling differently,” he said.
The minister urged authorities and stakeholders to promote loan schemes offered through NMDFC, particularly among youth and women entrepreneurs.
“Goa, being a very advanced and aware society, should take advantage of the schemes through the National Minorities Development Finance Corporation,” he said.
On minority scholarships, Rijiju said some scholarship programmes had been temporarily suspended following allegations of misuse involving private universities in multiple states.
“The CBI has been asked to investigate. The scholarship has been stopped for the time being till the case is settled,” he said.
He noted that a significant proportion of overseas scholarship beneficiaries belonged to the Christian community, while the Muslim community had performed well in skill development programmes.
Rijiju also stressed the importance of maintaining communal harmony and preserving the ethos of Indian society.
“There are some isolated incidents which keep happening here and there, but that should not disturb the larger ethics and ethos of Indian society,” he said.
