UPA Govt to treat Sachar Committee as a Commission

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) On the eve of its third anniversary, the UPA government today said it would treat the recommendations of the Sachar Committee as that of a Commission and submit in the monsoon session of Parliament an Action Taken Report (ATR) by each ministry.

A Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also approved identification of 90 minority concentration districts (MCDs) for implementing special development plans.

Further, the Planning Commission would be asked to allocate in the Eleventh Plan (2007-12) separate funds for implementation of the Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee recommendations. These would be over and above the funds allocated in the Plan for minority welfare.

The suggestions on the Sachar Committee came from the Prime Minister and the ''entire Cabinet stood by him'' on the issue, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters.

The UPA government is celebrating its third anniversary on May 22.

The Centre wanted to send across a strong message that the promises made in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) to the minorities were not mere ''empty words'' and the government was really serious about improving their lot, Mr Dasmunsi said.

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