Multi-Sectoral Development Programme which was initially aimed to improve social indicators of Muslims in 90 minority concentration districts is to get expansion of its horizon soon. The Ministry of Minority Affairs is contemplating to increase the number from 90 districts to maximum 200 districts. The ministry has already identified 776 blocks with sizeable Muslim presence in across 196 districts. But the question looms large on its implementation and utilisation of funds in the past and in near future?
Multi-Sectoral Development Programme was implemented in 2008-09 in 90 districts which were identified as backward and far below the national average in terms of socio-economic parameters and basic facilities. K Rahman Khan, during his felicitation programme organised by South Asian Minorities Lawyers Association in the national capital had expressed his concern over the implementation of the Programme and expressed his helplessness that his ministry has to depend on the state governments for implementation of minority schemes. Presently, the minority ministry does not have enough power to compel the state governments to implement minority schemes in totality. States like Gujarat have refused to implement minority schemes and minority ministry can do nothing about it.
There are also reports revealed through RTI saying that state governments have utilised only 48.2 per cent of the total money allocated to them by the minority ministry till 29 February 2012. The Centre had allocated Rs. 3780.4 crore for the Multi-Sectoral Programme of which Rs. 2667.76 crore was released to State governments. The state governments utilised only Rs 1287.3 crore which is roughly 48 per cent. States like Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya, Kerala, Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir have utilised even less than 50 per cent of the allocated funds.
Under prevailing circumstances it is more important to develop a mechanism that can ensure implementation of schemes and to ensure that total funds are utilised than simply expanding the horizons of the schemes. The criteria followed to select districts need to be formulated where most of the minority concentration districts get covered. It is equally important to note that not a single district in Andhra Pradesh has been selected under these schemes because they are unable to fulfil the criteria. Presently, only the districts with 25 per cent minority population qualify for the scheme. Districts with 20-25 per cent minority population can also be considered if the total minority population is 5 lakh or more under the new proposal moved forward by the minority ministry.
The government in his achievement for the year 2012-13 has mentioned that it has sanctioned Rs 389.96 crore under the Multi-Sectoral Development for the construction of 4519 houses, 106 Health Centres 1081 Aganwadi Centres, 14293 Hand Pumps, 19 School Buildings, 613 Additional class rooms, 27 ITI’s, 11 Polytechnics and 77 Hostels. But, it is yet to be seen as to when and how these projects get completed.