The government today said that it has accepted 90 per cent recommendations of the Sachchar committee. Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha, minority affairs minister Salman Khurshid said his ministry has taken several steps to promote entrepreneurship and self employment among minorities.

Mr Khurshid said the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation(NMDFC), a central public sector enterprise extends loans at concessional rate of interest to persons belonging to minority communities living below the poverty line. He informed the House in order to develop infrastructure for skill upgradation of the minorities, 71 ITIs and 31 polytechnics have been sanctioned during the last five years.

Mr. Khurshid said under the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana from 2007-08 up to December last year, the ministry of Housing and Urban poverty alleviation has assisted over 74 thousand urban poor persons to set up individual micro enterprises.

He also said for accelerated development of minorities, the working Group on the empowerment of minorities for formulation of the 12th five year plan has outlined some modification in implementation of Prime minister’s new 15 point programme.

Mr. Khurshid said over 3200 new bank branches have been opened in the minority concentration districts since 2007-08 up to December last year.

The minister also informed that Reserve Bank of India has issued necessary instructions to all scheduled commercial banks to specifically direct credit to Muslims and create awareness of various credit schemes through publicity.