New Delhi, June 12 -- In a major outreach towards "minority" community, the Centre on Tuesday announced scholarships for 5 crore minority students, including 50 per cent for girls, in next five-years and sought to "mainstream" madrasa education.

"There are a large number of madrasas across the country. They will be connected with the formal education and mainstream education so that those children studying there can contribute in the development of society," said Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

The Minister chaired the 112th governing body meeting of Maulana Azad Education Foundation at Antyodaya Bhawan here.

Several scholarships such as pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means will be provided to 5 crore st...