New Delhi : Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has tightened leash over the UPA government’s 15-point programme in the districts with minority concentration as recommended the Justice Sachar committee report, renaming it as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Yojana.
Manipur governor Najma Heptulla had continued the UPA”s programme so long as she headed the minority ministry, but Naqvi decided to remodel it as soon as he took the charge as the BJP views it as communal budgeting and minority appeasement in the scheme for the districts with the Muslim concentration, though the Sachar committee advocated it to improve basic amenities and reduce imbalances for removing the social, economic and educational backwardness among the Muslims.
Under the new programme, the Centre will not prepare any programmes but ask the state governments to send proposals for projects for 90 districts in the country categorised as minority concentration districts and seek the central funds. The development plans under the programme in these districts for which the ministry will provide funds include critical infrastructure like roads, basic health facilities and marketing centres for multiplying avenues of livelihood.
Naqvi has also sounded the state government to build multi-purpose “sadbhav mandaps” or community halls in these districts that can be used by all communities for weddings, other family events, sporting activities and craft bazaars.
He said such structures will also meet the suggestion of the disaster management authorities to build common spaces as shelters to accommodate people in case of a natural or man-made disaster.
