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Plan to address development deficits cleared

Special Correspondent

To be implemented in minority concentration districts

It will cost Rs.3,780 crore in the
XI Five-Year Plan
It will aim at upgrading socio-economic parameters, basic amenities

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday approved a ‘Multi-sectoral Development Programme’ aimed at addressing the ‘development deficits’ in rural and semi-rural areas across the 90 minority concentration districts identified last year.

It also cleared a scheme for strengthening education among Scheduled Tribe (ST) girls in 54 low literacy districts, particularly naxal violence affected areas.

A Centrally sponsored scheme (CSS), the Multi-sectoral Development Programme will entail an expenditure of Rs.3,780 crore in the XI Five-Year Plan, beginning this fiscal itself. Rs.120 crore has been allotted for the programme for 2007-08.

The programme seeks to upgrade the socio-economic parameters and basic amenities for improving the quality of life of the people and reducing imbalances in line with the priority attached to inclusive growth by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

“Absolutely critical infrastructure linkages” such as connecting roads, basic health infrastructure, Integrated Child Development Service centres, skill development and marketing facilities required for improving living conditions and economic opportunities will be eligible for inclusion in the plan.

Financial assistance will be given to these districts to address the ‘development deficits’ — lack of development due to existing schemes of either the State or Central government. Release of funds to States and Union Territories will be subject to a commitment that they will constitute a State/District Level Committee for implementing the Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities.

A suitable monitoring system will be put in place to ensure that the development deficits are plugged. Besides, there is a provision for an independent in-depth evaluation after two years to assess the need for a mid-term correction.

ST girls’ education

As for the scheme to strengthen education among ST girls in 54 districts identified to have low literacy levels, the CCEA has sanctioned Rs.298.79 crore during the XI Plan. In these districts, STs make up more than a quarter of the population and the literacy rate among ST girls is below 35 per cent. There is a provision for extending the scheme to other districts with similar indicators. It will also cover areas below a block level inhabited by notified Primitive Tribal Groups. In all these eligible areas, priority will be given to naxal violence affected pockets.

This scheme seeks to improve upon an existing programme by not only expanding the eligibility criteria but also increasing the annual assistance from Rs.9,000 to Rs. 26,000. The aim is to bridge the gap in literacy levels between the general category girls and ST girls. The revised scheme and financial norms will be implemented from the next fiscal.

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