Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities,

(PIB NEWS) The Government has said that the Prime Minister’s New 15- Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities aims at enhancing opportunities for education, equitable share in economic activities and employment, improving the conditions of living of minorities and prevention and control of communal riots. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of Minority Affairs, informed the House that the new programme envisages location of a certain proportion of development projects in minority concentration areas. It also provides that, wherever possible, 15% of targets and outlays under various schemes should be earmarked for minorities. Accordingly, State-wise and scheme-wise targets are fixed for benefits to minorities under various schemes included in the programme considered amenable to earmarking. Shri Khurshid informed the Lok Sabha that implementation of the 15- Point Programme is monitored at the State/UT and district levels by the State/ District level committees. At the Centre, the progress of implementation of the programme, monitored and reported by the various Ministries/ Departments concerned, is reviewed every quarter by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and on half yearly basis by a Committee of Secretaries and by the Cabinet.
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