Welfare of minorities received a major boost when the Union Budget presented by Finance ministry proposed doubling the allocation for the ministry of minority affairs. In a please-all Budget clearly aimed at early elections, the Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, delivered slew of sops to all segments of society. In the fifth and last full Budget of the UPA Government, Finance Minister announced speedy implementation of recommendations of the Sachar Committee, earmarking Rs 1,000 crore as against Rs 500 crore in the previous year, continuation of schemes for scholarships, modernisation of madrasa education and implementation of the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme for minorities.
According to a report, the Budget announced Rs, 3780 crore worth of multi-sector development plan for 90 identified minority concentration districts in the country.