The Mewat Development Agency (MDA) has prepared a multi-sectoral district development plan of Rs 76.90 crore for Mewat in accordance with the Prime Minister's 15- point programme for the welfare of the minorities and as required by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs. The plan was approved at the 24th meeting of the MDB chaired by Haryana Governor A.R. Kidwai here today. Kidwai, who is also the chairman of the MDB, said the scheme would be sent to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs for providing Rs 76.90 crore which would be utilised for providing facilities to the people of Mewat in the fields of health, education, skill development, food processing, agriculture, horticulture and sports. The Governor also said the Haryana Women Development Corporation would henceforth provide micro-credit facilities to poor women at 4 to 5 per cent with a development subsidy of 3 per cent. He said with this decision the beneficiaries would be saved from as high rates of interest as 18 per cent per annum which they were paying to intermediatory NGOs. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda laid stress on the multi-dimensional development of Mewat and directed the chief secretary to send the district plan to the union government for its funding. He said a similar plan for Sirsa district should also be prepared as early as possible so that it could also be sent to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs. He also laid emphasis on creating a special Mewat cadre for the purpose of recruitment especially for that district to fill posts in the departments of education and health. It was also decided to give a fee concession to 15 Meo girls for nursing and midwifery training at Sifa Nursing Centre, Bangalore, at a cost of Rs 11.73 lakh for the course duration of three and a half years. Hooda said more students should be sponsored for this course. Finance minister Birender Singh said the Kotla Lake project should be expedited so that adequate irrigation and drinking water could be made available to the people of Mewat. It was also decided that Al-Afia Hospital, Mandikhera, should be upgraded as a central hospital with education and training facilities in the paramedical and nursing fields. A decision was taken to open diagnostic centres on a priority basis at Mandikhera and Nuh. The proposal of the Sona Group of industries for taking over the PHC, Nagina, under the community development programme was also approved.