The Ministry of Minority Affairs has decided to increase the scholarship of schoolgirls belonging to minority communities by up to 15%.

The Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), a subordinate organisation of the ministry, has decided to increase the total budget for its Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship Scheme for schoolgirls. It has also decided to start an aggressive campaign to increase awareness about the scheme.

During 2017-18, about 1,15,000 girls were given scholarship under the scheme. Around Rs 78 crore was allotted for this.

"This year, we are planning to have a budget of Rs 90 crore. We have also informed the ministry about it," said MAEF secretary Rizwanur Rahman.

"There is still a need to increase awareness about this scheme. We are trying to start an aggressive campaign to spread this awareness," the MAEF secretary said.

Around 300 Garib Nawaz Skill Development Centres are being run by the MAEF across the country, Rahman said. Under the scheme, the girl students of Class IX and X are given Rs 5,000 each per year and the students of Class XI and XII Rs 6,000 each per year.