Azharuddin Plans Panel To Streamline Telangana Waqf Board
Azharuddin said the department was also organising job melas for educated unemployed minority youth and providing skill training in various sectors.
Adilabad: Minister for public enterprises and minority welfare Mohammed Azharuddin has said the Telangana government is planning to constitute a committee to examine the affairs of the Telangana State Waqf Board, streamline its functioning and protect its assets and properties.
In an exclusive interview with Deccan Chronicle, Azharuddin said the committee would also recommend measures to ensure that Waqf properties are used effectively for the welfare and development of Muslim minorities in the state.
"There is no point in being the minister for minority welfare if I cannot ensure that the Waqf Board, which comes under my ministry, functions effectively," he said.
Responding to a question on his plans for the Waqf Board, Azharuddin said, "We are planning to constitute a committee to look into the affairs of the Waqf Board, streamline its functioning, protect its assets and properties, and ensure they are used properly for the welfare and development of Muslim minorities in the state."
Referring to the killing of advocate Khaza Moizuddin in connection with a Waqf land dispute, he said there were several long-pending cases relating to Waqf lands and properties and that all such cases would be verified.
On the Telangana government's Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste Survey, Azharuddin said the data would be used to strengthen the welfare of Muslim minorities.
"We are using the survey data to identify gaps in education, employment and overall development among Muslim minorities. The findings will help us focus on weaker areas and formulate targeted welfare measures for the empowerment of the community," he said.
Highlighting the initiatives taken since assuming charge as minority welfare minister, Azharuddin said the government was giving top priority to education.
"We recently inaugurated two junior college buildings. A total of 20 buildings are ready for inauguration, and we are planning to establish 10 degree colleges each for boys and girls to reduce dropouts and encourage minority students to pursue higher education," he said.
He said education was the key to the uplift of minorities and added that permanent buildings with modern infrastructure were being constructed for institutions run by the Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society (TMREIS), many of which had functioned from rented premises during the previous BRS government.
Azharuddin said the department was also organising job melas for educated unemployed minority youth and providing skill training in various sectors.
"We are adopting innovative approaches to improve employability, and there is a noticeable change in the attitude of minority students towards education and employment," he said.
He said he was working closely with TMREIS president Md Faheem Qureshi to improve educational standards in minority educational institutions and added that the government was receiving full support from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for minority welfare initiatives.
Azharuddin said the existing four per cent reservation for Muslims had significantly benefited the community in education and employment. He criticised the previous BRS government for failing to fulfil its promise of providing 12 per cent reservation to Muslim minorities.
Speaking about his recent visit to Adilabad, the minister said the tour was intended to motivate minority students in rural areas and towns to focus on education and build a better future.
"I have a special attachment to Adilabad because my uncle, Dr Mir Mosiquddin, served as the medical superintendent there before Independence," he said.
On the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Azharuddin said the government and community leaders would undertake awareness programmes to educate Muslim voters about the importance of the exercise.
"We will organise awareness programmes to help Muslim voters understand the SIR process and ensure that eligible voters protect their names in the electoral rolls during the ongoing household verification," he said.
