Funds Provided under Multi-Sectoral Development Programme for the Welfare of Minorities

As per the reports received, States/UTs have utilized 75.30% of the amount released to them up to 31.03.2011 under Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The utilization certificates for releases made during 2011-12 and 2012-13 are due in the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 respectively. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Shri Vincent H. Pala, Minister of State for Minority Affairs, said that in some of the States/UTs, the pace of implementation of MsDP has been slow due to late submission of plans by States/UTs, non- availability of land and location related problems, inordinate delay in transfer of fund by State/UTs to the district, non release of required State share and long gestation period of infrastructure projects. The matter has been taken up with the respective Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of States by the Minister of Minority Affairs and Secretary of the Ministry to sensitize the State Governments. A National Conference of State Ministers, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of Minority Welfare was especially convened in June, 2012 to sort out the bottlenecks in implementation of minority welfare schemes. The Minister informed the House that regional conferences at different places are being held to review the pace of implementation of the programme locally, apart from regular reviews through video conferences.

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