WELFARE
The criteria adopted for the identification of the existing list of minority concentration districts was that the minorities should account for 20% of its population, which was the percentage of population of all minorities put together in the country (as per 1971 Census).
Total population of Minorities percentage of minority communities in 41
in 41 minority concentration districts minority concentration districts to total
minority population in the country
(as per 1981 Census) (as per 1981 Census)
3,02,93,231 27.65%
The exercise to review the list is in progress. Poverty, Educational Backwardness of an area besides the population as per 1991 Census are the guiding principles for the revision of the list of minority concentration districts in the country.
(Source: LSUQ No. 1719 dated 7 December, 1998 by S. Shahabuddin)
Shahabuddin's Letter to Minister of Welfare Sitaram Kesri on Identification of Minority Concentration Districts, 8 December, 1995
Please refer to your reply to LSUQ No. 1719 regarding the identification of minority concentration districts. The figures given by you confirm that in the present list of districts, only 27.65% of the minorities population is being covered. In fact, in the case of some minority communities, the percentage may be even smaller. However, I am glad that you are reviewing the list. I would suggest that you must enlarge the list to include at least 75% of each religious minority. This can easily be done by considering all districts in which the population of a particular minority is at least 1% of the total population of that minority in the country as a whole. These districts can be arranged in order of population of that community and the cut-off should apply where the cumulative total riches 75% of the total population of the community. This exercise can be done for each minority community, separately. Some districts may overlap. Overlap can be cancelled in the final common list.
On 15-Point Programme for Minorities
The 15-Point Programme for the welfare of minorities is being implemented through Central Ministries/Departments as well as States/UTs. The matters relating to recruitment in Central Ministries/ Deptts, including Central Police Organizations, matters relating to pre-examination coaching schemes for the economic development of minorities is the direct concern of Union Government.
The points relating to Law and Order, Education, relief to riot victims, encroachment of Wakf properties, recruitment in State Civil/Police Services and implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes relating to these points are implemented directly by the State Government but are closely monitored by the Union Government from time to time.
The 15-Point Programme for the welfare of minorities is being implemented since May, 1983. It is a continuous process.
(Source: LSUQ No. 1851 dated 7 December, 1995 by S.M.L.J. Hasha)
On Socio-Economic Development of Minorities
The Scheme for formulation of Multi-sector Plan for development of minorities is under the active consideration of Government.
The Scheme envisages to identify such economic activities in identified districts in which minorities are conspicuously engaged. For this purpose, each district wherever convenient a block or even a town may be taken up in a unit. Special area programme shall be prepared for such units incorporating provision for credit, raw material, appropriate technology and market support. The Scheme will be implemented through State Government/UT Admns.
Necessary finance is proposed to be provided to State Govts. for preparation of Project Report. A provision of Rs. 0.50 crore has been made for this purpose during 1995-96. In the first stage, the scheme would be taken up in 41 minority concentration districts, identified as per 1971 Census which need more urgent attention.
(Source: LSUQ No. 733/30.11.95 by L. Pandey, B.C. Khanduri and A.B. Vajpayee)
