Khurshid plans to involve MPs in minority programme

NEW DELHI: The ministry for minority affairs is proposing to introduce some changes in its multi-sectoral development programme for minority concentration districts. The changes will include involving MPs who represent these districts in the planning process and independent monitoring of the programme. The ministry will submit the changes for Cabinet approval shortly.

Minister of state for minority affairs Salman Khurshid said: ���we have decided to involve the MPs from 90 districts with sizable minority population in the central government-funded multi-sectoral development programmes. We have also decided to opt for external monitoring on the same pattern as NREGA.���

The multi-sectoral development programme is a scheme aimed at improving the socio-economic parameters in districts with minority concentration. The 90 districts covered by the scheme have at least 25% minority population, or in the case of heavily populated districts, the threshold is 20% or 5 lakh minority population.

Besides the population criteria, there are eight other parameters for selecting these districts. These include socio-economic criteria ���literacy rate, female literacy rate, work participation rate, female work participation rate; and basic amenities ��� percentage of houses with pucca walls, with safe drinking water, electricity and toilets.