Telangana Govt Prioritising Minority Welfare and Development: Bhatti

The Deputy Chief Minister said the government was giving special importance to the development of Hyderabad’s Old City and allocating substantial funds for various development initiatives. He further stated that the government was committed to providing better educational opportunities to minority students and laying a strong foundation for their future.

Vikramarka, on Friday, said the government was committed to expanding education opportunities for the minority communities in Telangana and assured that there would be no delays or restrictions on release of funds for educational institutions aimed at improving education opportunities for minority communities.

In a significant step that widens the prospects for higher education for students from these communities, the Deputy Chief Minister also said the government will take the necessary steps to add Egypt and Saudi Arabia to the list of countries to which eligible minority students can go to pursue higher studies with financial assistance under the Overseas Scholarship programme of the government.

The Deputy Chief Minister, who chaired a high-level review on minority welfare at Praja Bhavan on Friday, also cleared the way for completion of construction of a multi-storeyed building adjacent to Haj House in Nampally, work on which had been pending for several years. Friday’s meeting follows an assurance in the Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the Deputy Chief Minister that the government will hold a meeting to address concerns facing the minorities communities.

Vikramarka also instructed officials from the Minority Welfare Department to take steps and issue the necessary directions and orders to clear any hurdles for setting up Study Circles for minority students, and do the needful on this front.

The meeting was attended by Minorities Welfare Minister Md. Azharuddin, AIMIM floor leader in the Legislative Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi, principal secretary minorities welfare Ahmad Nadeem, secretary minorities welfare B. Shafiullah, and commissioner GHMC R.V. Karnan along with several other officials.

Vikramarka, responding to requests from Owaisi, said there will be no delays in release of funds for schools, study circles and other education institutions that will help students from minorities communities in their academic pursuits.

He also instructed the GHMC to release Rs 25 crore from the amount due to the Wakf Board for wakf land used in various road widening projects, earmarking the funds for completing the partially constructed building next to the Haj House.

This building, once completed, can be used to house a Study Circle for minorities as well as to house various offices of the minorities welfare department.

Declaring that there “will be no delays in clearing bills for buildings for educational institutions,” Vikramarka directed the GHMC to look into the issues that were delaying the setting up two Study Circles, one each in Moghalpura, and Bandlaguda areas.

He asked Owaisi, who offered ready to use space in these two locations for the Study Circles, to formally submit his readiness to offer the required space.

Responding to several other requests from Owaisi, who also urged the Deputy Chief Minister on issues relating to Christian minorities, Vikramarka said the government will examine all issues, including Shaadi Mubaarak, alternate land for an Islamic Cultural Centre, clearing applications from minorities under the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme, and pre-Matric Scholarships, and ensure release of the required funds in a timely manner.