He singled out minority welfare as an area of concern. “We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development.” Singh’s remarks come days after the Sachar committee reported to Parliament on the dismal representation of Muslims in all sectors, from employment to education.

Addressing the National Development Council consisting of all state Chief Ministers here today to clear the approach to the XI Plan, the PM identified what he called the “clear” collective priorities: agriculture, irrigation and water resources, health, education, rural infrastructure, along with programmes for the upliftment of SC/STs, minorities, women and children.

Later, speaking at the inter-state council, Singh carried this theme forward when he urged states to use stronger provisions of the law to prevent atrocities against SC/STs. “Today, as our country experiences rapid economic growth, it becomes all the more necessary that we ensure that our growth is truly inclusive. Otherwise, the growth in itself is of no value,” he said.

The weaker sections, “particularly those who have undergone historic seclusion”, had to be allowed to participate and contribute effectively to the processes of development, he said.

While there are, what the prime minister termed, “a myriad other responsibilities whose demands will have to be fitted within the over-all resource availability”, he said the Planning Commission would “eliminate those which have outlived their original rationale”.

Telling the chief ministers that the aim under the XI Plan “was (to) achieve the target of 9 per cent growth” he reiterated that “agriculture as a whole is in the midst of a crisis” which cannot be allowed to go on.

In fact, at the end of the over eight-hour meeting, Singh said he would call for a special meet of the NDC to specifically discuss the strategies for this sector as the XI Plan targets the agricultural sector to grow at 4 per cent as against the current 2 per cent.

He also urged the state chief ministers to ensure that their states come forward and sign MoUs to take benefit of ADB’s line of credit towards the cooperative sector.

Earlier in the day, in a marked departure from earlier tradition, he asked states to implement the quantifiable and monitorable targets socio-economic targets that the XI Plan for first time would spell out. These according to the PM relate “to employment generation, school drop out rates, infant mortality rates, maternal mortality rates and other important indicators”.

At the inter-state council, pointing out that cases continued to be registered under the weaker provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), instead of the stronger provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities Act, the PM suggested creation of special cells, preferably manned by senior officers from the SC/ST community to monitor and enforce provisions of this Act.

He, however, added that legislation alone wasn’t sufficient in dealing with social violence. What was needed was compassion for the victim, a firm resolve to deal with the perpetrators and political will to enforce the law and ensure easy access to the police and the justice system for the vulnerable sections, he said.

Justice for the weakest had to be have the highest priority, even more than the productivity indices, the PM stressed. “Continuing atrocities against the weaker sections are a matter of national disgrace,” said Singh.