Question : MULTI SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

(a) whether the Government had approved a proposal to make blocks and village clusters as units of planning for the Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) in minority concentrated areas;

(b) if so, the list of such Minority Concentration Blocks and Villages formed into clusters;

(c) whether the Government has set any cut off percentage of minority population as the basic parameter for identifying such blocks and villages for forming the clusters and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether such villages are to share common and contiguous border with the minority concentration district and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government intends to increase the number of minority concentration districts in the present plan period and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether the Government would be initiating a process of ascertaining the population growth among minorities in an interim manner towards creating minority concentration districts or delimiting the borders of minority concentration districts and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a) Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) has been revamped in 2013-14 for its implementation during remaining period of 12th Five Year Plan and Minority Concentration Blocks/Towns/ Cluster of Villages have been made unit of planning for implementation.

(b) A total of 710 Minority Concentration Blocks and 66 Minority Concentration Towns have been selected in backward districts. A cluster of villages having 50% population of Minorities is eligible under MsDP. A list of such blocks/towns is annexed.

(c) & (d): Block with a minimum of 25% minority population falling in the backward districts have been selected. However, in case of 6 States (Lakshadweep, Punjab, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Jammu & Kashmir), where a minority community is in majority, a lower cut-off of 15% of minority population, other than that of the minority community in majority in that State/UT, have been adopted. Contiguous minority concentration villages outside minority concentration blocks (having at least 50% minority population) and falling in backward districts are eligible for selection under this programme. In case of hilly areas of North Eastern States, a village cluster with 25% minority population is eligible under this programme.

(e) & (f): Presently, 710 Minority Concentration Blocks and 66 Minority Concentration Towns falling in 196 districts have been selected under MsDP. However, revision of Minority Concentration Blocks and Minority Concentration Towns is contingent upon the availability of data of 2011 Census.