Minority Min wants to form committees to monitor schemes

The Minority Affairs Ministry has sought from the government to form its own monitoring and coordinating committees in all 710 minority-concentrated blocks and 66 towns to oversee its projects.
The committees would help in effective implementation of Multi-sectoral Developmental Programme targeting minorities in these blocks and towns, Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan said after launching a helpline for minorities.
"Chief secretaries and district collectors in states are overseeing our ministry projects. They are busy people. Effective monitoring is an issue. We will have our own liaison officials," Khan said.
Official sources said a high-level committee headed by the minister has sent the proposal to the Prime Minister and a final decision is awaited.

Khan said the ministry would also have its own nodal officials in all state capitals who would work with state authorities to remove impediments in executing MsDP effectively and address people's grievances.
At block and town level, the ministry would have committees involving local people to oversee programmes.

He said he had succeeded in making blocks, towns and village clusters as units of MsDP instead of districts. This move, he said, helped cover much bigger population.
The Minister said people could make enquiries at the helpline, 1800112001, about various projects and lodge complaints.
The helpline is an effort to directly reaching out to the people. "People can call us up to know about our plans and seek clarifications. If they have any grievances, they can call us," he said.

Khan said more lines would be available soon.
The helpline would be available between 9 AM and 6 PM on all working days.
Officials said the move was aimed at creating awareness about the Ministry's welfare programmes.