The Centre today 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 15-Point Programmes in New Delhi, Minority Affairs Minister Rehman Khan expressed unhappiness at the slow progress of implementation of Minority-welfare schemes and initiatives.

He 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.

Khan pointed out that monitoring committees at the district and block levels are nearly inactive and pressed them to immediately ensure proper implementation of the benefit schemes do dispel the impression that the government's efforts have failed to impact beneficiaries' lives. 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 modify the Prime Minister's 15-Point Programme by including more schemes in the latter.