States asked to send plans for Minority Concentration Districts

New Delhi, Aug 16 (UNI) The Ministry of Minority Affairs has speeded up the process of finalisation of the Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) for Minority Concentration Districts.

It has recently sent a circular to the states having Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) to submit their plans as soon as possible so that follow up action could be taken.

The Ministry was keen to see these development plans take off without any further delay and the states lagging behind in the work were being pulled up, an official said.

As many as 90 such districts have been identified throughout the country. These were relatively backward and falling behind the national average in terms of socio-economic and basic amenities indicators.

Out of the 90 minority concentration districts, 53 districts have been classified in category 'A'. The remaining 37 districts fall under category 'B' of which 20 districts fall behind in socio-economic parameters and 17 districts in basic amenities parameters.

The MsDP aims at improving the socio-economic conditions of the minorities and providing civic amenities in their areas during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period.

Identified 'development deficits' would be made up through a district specific plan for provision of better infrastructure for school and secondary education, sanitation, pucca housing, drinking water and electricity supply, besides beneficiary oriented schemes for creating income generating activities.

Absolutely critical infrastructure linkages like connecting roads, basic health infrastructure, ICDS centres, skill development and marketing facilities required for improving living conditions and income generating activities and catalysing the growth process would also be eligible for inclusion in the plan.

To enable focused attention of government programmes and schemes on these districts, Central Ministries and Departments have been advised to prepare their plans in a manner that these districts get the required attention and resources.

The Multi-sectoral development plan to be prepared is based on the baseline survey of the district carried out under the aegis of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi or any suitable professional agency like a university.

The District Planning Committee or District Level Committee for implementation of the Prime Minister's New 15 Point Programme will prepare a MsD plan, which will have a district profile.

It will bring out the development deficits identified by the survey, indicate the strategy for addressing the deficits, propose projects and work to fill the 'development deficits' either by topping up the funds of ongoing schemes and programmes of the Central Government or propose projects, which are not catered to by existing schemes or programmes of the Central and State Governments and indicate the year-wise financial and physical phasing for implementation during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period.

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