Govt. committed to welfare of SC, ST, minorities: Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, Aug 15 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday said the UPA Government has paid special attention to the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, women and other weaker sections.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of 65th Independence Day today, Dr. Singh said: "The special needs of our tribal and backward districts are being met through programmes such as the Integrated Action Plan, Backward Regions Grant Fund and Tribal Sub Plan."

"Through the Forest Rights Act, we have given proprietary rights to lakhs of our brothers and sisters belonging to Scheduled Tribes on land on which they have been living for generations," he added.

Dr. Singh said the government is formulating a scheme to ensure that people belonging to Scheduled Tribes can get fair and remunerative prices for the forest produce they collect.

"The Government wants to speedily convert the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill into a legislation. Through this law we want to provide funds for the benefit of our tribal brothers and sisters in the mining areas," said Dr. Singh.

"We will make the 15 points programme for minorities more effective. The Multi-Sectoral Development Programme being implemented in districts with large minority populations will be expanded," he added.

Dr. Singh further said that his government has enhanced the amount of post-matric scholarship available to children belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minorities.

"Our efforts to make these scholarship schemes more effective will continue. We are considering a new and effective law to put an end to the repulsive practice of manual scavenging and to provide opportunities to those engaged in this practice to begin their lives afresh," he added. (ANI)