Govt plans Rs 3,780-cr scheme for minorities

The plan will be executed and monitored through a “dedicated cell” within the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

The MsDP will try to bring the socio-economic and basic amenities parameters of these districts at par with the national average. The projects will be executed with 100 per cent Central assistance.

Though 44 MCDs fall under the existing Backward Region Grants Fund (BRGF) scheme, where the government provides funds of Rs 10-20 crore per annum for each district for area- and problem-specific plans, the MsDP will also cover these districts.

The proposal of the Minority Affairs Ministry says the additional 100 per cent Central assistance under MsDP is needed as the existing schemes focus more on Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes.

The proposal, which has been approved by the expenditure and finance committee, underlines that the MsD plans for each district will have to be prepared on the basis of a baseline survey carried out by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) that would indicate the “development deficits”.

Specific projects for each district will be prepared with support from reputed universities or IITs, keeping in view of the development deficits indicated. The projects will provide special attention to the regions and blocks with substantial minority population.

The proposal has already categorised 90 MCDs into Category A and Category B. According to the proposal, while 53 Category A districts have both socio-economic and basic amenities parameters below the national average, the remaining 37 Category B districts lag behind the national average in either.

The proposal says that no district will receive less than Rs 15 crore for bridging its development deficits.

The MsDP, which will be now be taken to the Cabinet for final approval, will be launched during 2007-08. The government has already allocated a notional Rs 120 crore for the current year. The government is planning to allocate Rs 800 crore, Rs 1,100 crore, Rs 1,100 crore, and Rs 660 crore for subsequent years of the 11th Plan period.

The Minority Project

WHAT: A five-year, Rs 3,780-crore plan for 90 minority-concentrated districts

WHY: To bring basic amenities, socio-economic indices of these districts to the level of national average; Existing plans don’t focus on minorities

HOW: Cell in ministry to execute, monitor plan; each district to get direct Central funding; Minimum Rs 15 crore for a district; funding based on the level of backwardness