Lok Sabha Question No. 4400 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-14
Subject: MSD Programme for Minorities in Kerala
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: P. KARUNAKARAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4400 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2016

## MSD Programme for Minorities in Kerala

## 4400. SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN :

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether not even a single district has been identified for Multi Sectoral Development (MSD) programme for minorities in Kerala;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the criteria adopted in selecting the above districts?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a)  &  (b)  Under  the  restructured  Multi-sectoral  Development  Programme  (MsDP),  the  unit  of planning is Minority Concentration Blocks(MCBs), Minority Concentration Towns (MCTs) and cluster of minority concentration villages. The Ministry has identified four Minority Concentration Blocks namely Panamaram, Mananthavady, Kalpetta and Sulthanbathery and one Minority Concentration Town namely Ponnani falling under Wayanad and Malappuram District respectively.

- (c) For identification of MCBs, MCTs and clusters of minority concentration villages following criteria is adopted as per existing guidelines:-
- (i)  Blocks  with  a  minimum  of  25%  minority  population  falling  in  the  backward  districts selected  on  the  basis  of  backwardness  parameters  adopted  during  11 th Five  Year  Plan, have been identified as the backward Minority Concentration Blocks (MCBs). In case of 6 States (Lakshadweep, Punjab, Nagaland, Meghalaya,  Mizoram  and  Jammu  & Kashmir), where a minority community is in majority, a lower cut-off of 15% of minority population, other than that of the minority community in majority in that State/UT, have been adopted. The backwardness parameters adopted for identification of the backward districts (same as the one adopted during 11 th Five Year Plan) are:
- (a) religion-specific socio-economic indicators at the district level-
- (i) literacy rate;
- (ii) female literacy rate;
- (iii) work participation rate; and
- (iv) female work participation rate; and
- (b) basic amenities indicators at the district level-
- (i) percentage of households with pucca walls;
- (ii) percentage of households with safe drinking water;
- (iii) percentage of households with electricity;

- (ii)  Further,  within  the  blocks  of  backward  districts  not  selected  as  MCBs,  cluster  of contiguous  minority  concentration  villages  (having  at  least  50%  minority  population) may be identified.  In  case  of  hilly  areas  of  North  Eastern  States,  such  villages  having minority's  population  of  25%  may  be  identified.  About  500  villages  which  are  falling outside  the  minority  concentration  blocks,  may  be  covered  through  such  clusters. Identification of the clusters fulfilling the above criteria is done by the States/UTs. The identified  clusters  are  recommended  by  the  State  Level  Committee  to  the  Empowered Committee for its final selection for implementation of the programme. The Empowered Committee  finalises  the  selection  of  the  cluster  and  also  fixes  the  allocation  for  each cluster for the 12 th Five Year Plan.
- (III)  Moreover,  Towns/cities  with  a  minimum  of  25%  minority  population  (in  case  of  6 States/UTs, 15% of minority population, other than that of the minority community in majority in that State/UT) having both socio-economic and basic amenities parameters below national average, have been identified as Minority Concentration Towns/Cities for the implementation of the programme.

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