Govt to track minority schemes; MPs to have say

The government will appoint national-level independent monitors to track back how Rs 3,780 are being spent for minority welfare under the “flagship multi-sectoral development programme”, in which Members of Parliament will now have a say for the first time.

The government will appoint national-level independent monitors to track back how Rs 3,780 are being spent for minority welfare under the “flagship multi-sectoral development programme”, in which Members of Parliament will now have a say for the first time.

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The multi-sectoral programme, which helps set up anything from a school to a water pump, applies to 90 districts countrywide where minorities make up over 25 per cent of the population and lag behind significantly on crucial socio-economic parameters.

The government’s approach is such that creation of assets in these districts should benefit the majority communities as well. UP, Assam and Bihar have the largest number of minority districts, with 21, 12 and 6 districts respectively.

These districts were selected on the basis of 10 indicators, ranging from literacy to the number of inoculated children.

The government hopes evaluating schemes with a fine-toothed comb and involving MPs, an idea of Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, are moves that would customise the multi-sectoral scheme.

The government feels a quick appraisal is important to ensure rapid implementation of schemes. “These independent monitors will report back two things: Are schemes being implemented in the right way and right place,” Khrushid said.