APJ Abdul Kalam's Name Given to AP's Overseas Education Scheme
Vijayawada: Nasyam Mohammad Farook assumed charge as Minister of Law and Minority Welfare of Andhra Pradesh on Friday.
He took charge as minister after interfaith prayers, especially Namaz, at 2pm in the chamber allotted to him (room no 212) in the 3rd block of the state secretariat.
The minister said his first sign was on the Waqf Board files after examining them.
He said the skill development, education, health and infrastructure facilities should be provided to the minorities through central schemes like the Prime Minister's Jan Vikas Center (PMJVK). He would take a decision on these after discussing matters with the higher authorities.
Promising that good facilities will be provided for Haj pilgrims, minister Farook said he will work with the aim of raising the living standards of the minorities. The overseas education scheme will be named after former President APJ Abdul Kalam. The relevant file will be sent to the chief minister for approval.
He recalled that, in the past, education abroad schemes bore the names of NTR and BR Ambedkar, but the previous government renamed these. “Our governments had spent spent hundreds of crores for the welfare of minorities and implementation of quality education.”
Farook said that the previous government had ignored 77 projects worth `643.54 crore sanctioned during 2014-19 under PMJVK. As there has been no progress in the projects in the last five years, the Secretary to the Minority Welfare department, K Harshavardhan, was directed to instruct the district collectors to complete those works quickly.
The minister asked him to prepare new proposals on behalf of the state and submit them to the central government.
Minister Farook said the Waqf Board, the Urdu Academy under the school education department and the Minority Finance Corporation under the revenue department will be brought under the minority welfare department.
He said that, in the past, he worked for the development of the Muslims and Christians and they brought to his notice many problems in Dargahs and Waqf Boards. “We shall thoroughly discuss these and resolve them.”
The minister explained the efforts made by Chandrababu Naidu for development of churches.
Guntur East MLA Mohammad Naseer, minority welfare principal secretary K Harshavardhan, law secretary Prabhakar Rao, Waqf Board CEO Abdul Khader, Urdu academy director Mastan Vali, minority department officials, staff and others were present.
