Minorities will be equal partners in India's progress: President

President Pranab Mukherjee Monday underlined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's resolve to reach out to the minorities, promising that they would be "equal partners in India's progress".

Addressing a joint session of both houses of parliament, Mukherjee expressed his regret over the fact that sections of minority community remained poor even after several decades of independence.

"It is unfortunate that even after several decades of independence, sections of minority communities continue to suffer from poverty, as benefits of government schemes do not reach them," Mukherjee said.

"My government is committed to making all minorities equal partners in India's progress," Mukherjee said, adding that the Centre was committed to providing quality education to the minorities.

"The government will especially strengthen measures to spread modern and technical education among minority communities and a National Madrassa Modernisation Programme will be initiated," Mukherjee said.

Besides, he said steps would be initiated to contain communal violence in the country. "A national plan will be chalked out in consultation with the state governments to effectively curb incidents of communal violence," the president said.