The Government also plans to have a debate on the Prevention of Communal Violence Bill in the forthcoming winter session of the Parliament.

“We should have debate on the Prevention of Communal Violence Bill in the forthcoming winter session of the Parliament,” the Union Minister of Minority Affairs K Rahman Khan said at the margins of a conference of principal secretaries and secretaries of state governments in-charge on minority affairs here on Monday.

The MsDP has been restructured in the 12th Plan to focus on MCBs instead of Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs). Accordingly 710 blocks have been identified for implementation of this programme. The programme has been expanded to cover 66 minority concentration towns. The vision of the restructured MsDP is to implement the programme with full involvement of the minority communities.

Inaugurating the conference the minister said : “Block level committees (BLCs) should be constituted immediately and all plans under MsDP must be formulated by BLCs to take care of the local needs of minorities.”

The MsDP also provides for engagement of block level facilitators who would serve as bridge between the minority communities and the welfare programme of the government.

“Some of the States have not sent their plan proposals for the 12th Plan and I request them to do so at the earliest,” Khan said.

The thrust of the plan under MsDP should be on education, skill development and health, he said as these are the sectors that need maximum attention for the uplift of the minority communities.

“At least 75% of the allocation under MsDP should be proposed for projects relating to education, skill development,” the minister said.

The restructured MsDP gives special focus to the skill training of youth from minority communities by earmarking 10% of the total allotment.

“It is important that skill training is done through reputed and credible training institutes. The Ministry of Minority Affairs is empanelling such institutes for the skill training and the States may conduct the training through them. Otherwise, the States may themselves empanel good training institutes through a transparent process,” Khan said.

The target earmarked under a particular scheme for minorities in a State should be redistributed to districts and blocks keeping in view the below the poverty line (BPL) population of the minorities in those districts and blocks he said.

“Further, even within the blocks the assets must be so located that the catchment area has at least 25% minority population,” Khan said.

The minister, however, said that the programme was for uplift of the backward class. One should look at those Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and other minorities as backward classes and not as religious groups.

The MsDP also provides for constitution of social audit committees at block level with the members drawn from minority committees. The minister called for involvement of the members of minority communities in all the committees.

During the 11th Plan period Rs 2936 crore was released by the central government to the states for various projects and 76% of the fund released was utilized by the states. The minister called for expediting the execution of the remaining projects so that the entire amount released is utilized at the earliest. Special attention should be given to bigger projects like it is and polytechnics.