AP earmarks Rs 516 crore for schemes meant for minorities
Picture used for representational purpose. (Photo: DC/File)
Hyderabad: Mandarins of minority welfare department of Andhra Pradesh state have earmarked Rs 516 crore for welfare schemes meant for minority communities in the state for the financial year of 2014-15.
This is a reduction from the earlier estimate of Rs 1,000 crore, say sources in the department. The funds are meant for scholarships, loans to women self-help groups of minority communities, maintenance of mosques and marriage function halls (Shaadi Khanas) and prominent religious places of minorities.
In a pre-budgetary meeting with minister for minorities welfare P. Raghunath Reddy, the authorities have placed the proposal, stating that in combined state, the department was allocated '1,027 crore for the financial year of 2013-14, apart from the Central government’s grant of '80 crore.
A senior official of the department, associated with the Budget preparation, on condition of anonymity, disclosed that Telangana state has already announced Rs 1,000 crore in its Budget for minority welfare but as the minority population in AP is less in comparison to Telangana, it was advised to revise the estimates by the government.
“We are not sure if the government would accept the proposal of Rs 516 crore or it will reduce the allocation,” the official added.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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