Background & Objective

In 1987, a list of 41 minority concentration districts was prepared, based on a single criterion of minority population of 20 percent or more in a district based on the data from Census 1971, for enabling focused attention of government programs and schemes on these districts.

The Multi-sectorial Development Program (MsDP) was conceived as a special initiative of the follow up action on the Sachar Committee recommendations .It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) approved by the Government in the beginning of the 1st five Year Plan and launched in the year 2008-09 in 90 Minority Concentrations Districts (MCDs).It is an area development initiative to address the development deficits of minority concentration are as by creating socio-economic infrastructure and providing basic amenities.

Objective

The program aims at improving the socio-economic conditions of minorities and providing basic amenities to them for improving the quality of life of the people and reducing imbalances in the identified minority concentration are as during the 12th Five Year Plan period. The projects to be taken up under MsDP would be related to the provision of better infrastructure for education, skill development, health, sanitation, pucca housing, roads, drinking water, besides schemes for creating income generating opportunities. The objective of the scheme would be to fill the gaps in the existing schemes of the Govt. of India by providing addition all resources and to take up non-gap filling projects (innovative projects) for the welfare of the minorities.

This initiative will be a joint effort of the Centre and the States/UTs for inclusive growth accelerate development process and improve the quality of life of the people.The scheme aims at focused development programs for backward minority concentration areas to help reduce imbalances and speed up development.

The gap filling projects would be implemented with the same guidelines as applicable under the existing scheme of the Govt. of India. The non-gap filling innovative projects would be implemented as per the project design submitted and approved.