New Delhi, Aug 6 - Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid Thursday said the government will involve local MPs in planning development programmes in nearly 90 districts of the country with sizeable minority population.
'We have decided to involve the MPs from 90 districts with sizable minority population in the central government funded Multi-sectoral Development Programmes,' Khurshid told reporters.
The Multi-sectoral Development Programme is a scheme aimed at improving the socio-economic parameters in districts with more than 25 percent minority population.
Khurshid Wednesday called a meeting of 100 MPs from different from the 90 districts. Nearly 36 lawmakers attended, along with Saeeda Hamid, member of the Planning Commission.
The ministers also said that for the better implementation of the development programmes a 'monitoring mechanism' will be developed and a national level monitor will be appointed.
'The national monitor would be in place by end of this year,' he said.
Khurshid said that suggestions have been invited from the MPs and will be studied and reviewed by the Planning Commission during its mid-term review.