The Centre on Monday urged the States to speed up implementing special area development programmes to increase socio-economic infrastructure in Minority-inhabited poor areas.

Addressing a conference of Principal Secretaries and Secretaries to review implementation of the Multi-Sectoral Development and Prime Minister's new 15-Point Programmes in New Delhi, Minority Affairs Minister Rehman Khan called on the States to proactively engage with the Centre to extend their full support and cooperation to reach the benefits of the schemes to the target population.

He asked the committees to involve panchayats, urban local bodies, NGOs and locals to enhance cooperation in implementing the development and welfare programmes.

The Minority Affairs Minister informed that the Centre is working on restructuring the MSDP and modifying the Prime Minister's view 15-Point Programme by including more schemes in the latter.