NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said plans for minorities, particularly Muslims, must have the

first claim on resources so that benefits of development reach them equitably.

“We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to

share equitably the fruits of development. These must have the first claim on resources,” he said in his address at the 52nd meeting of the National Development Council here.

The Centre's resources, he added, will be stretched with greater responsibility given to states in this regard.

"The Centre has a myriad other responsibilities whose demands will have to be fitted within its overall resource

availability," he said. "The Planning Commission will undertake a thorough review of ongoing programmes to eliminate those which have outlived their original rationale," Singh added.

Singh also emphasised that special component plans for Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes were needed to revitalise the country.

Last month, the Prime Minister favoured fair share for minorities in government and private jobs as he spoke at the

meeting of the National Commission for minorities.

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