Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister, Mr. Harish Rao held a meeting of high-level officials of the Dept. of Minorities Welfare continuously for 4 hours. He observed that the implementation of welfare schemes for minorities is very slow. He told that a video conference will be held within a week to apprise the District Collectors of the schemes.
He told the officials to release honoraria for Imams and Muazzins before the 5th of every month.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Mohammed Fareeduddin, Mr. Farooq Husain, Mr. Mohammed Saleem (MLCs), Mr. AK Khan, Advisor to Govt. on Minority Affairs, Mr. Dana Kishore, Secretary, Dept. of Minorities Welfare, Mr. Shahnawaz Qasim, Director, Dept. of Minorities Welfare, Mr. B. Shafiullah, Secretary, Minorities Residential Schools Society, Prof. S.A. Shukoor, Director, Urdu Academy, Mr. B. Victor, MD of Christian Finance Corporation and other officials.
It may be mentioned that it is for the first time during the past four years that Mr. Harish Rao held a meeting of the officials of the Dept. of Minorities Welfare. It is reported that he convened this meeting on the instructions from CM so that the officials of the Dept. are motivated to accelerate the implementation of welfare schemes meant for minorities.
Mr. Harish Rao sought the details of allocation and release of minorities’ budget.
Mr. Shafiullah informed that there are 48000 seats in 204 minorities’ residential schools. Next year, 1, 30, 400 seats would be available in these institutions. He told that last year, Rs. 435 crore was spent. This year Govt. allocated Rs. 735 crore.
Mr. Harish Rao issued instructions to Wakf Board to release honoraria to Imams and muazzins immediately. He told them if these payments are not made, the image of Govt. would be tarnished.
Officials informed that 13000 applications are pending under Shaadi Mubarak Scheme for which amounts have to be released.
Mr. Harish Rao advised the officials to start micro-financing scheme under which Govt. pays 80% subsidy and the applicants have to arrange 20% amount. The officials of Minorities Finance Corporation informed that 1.63 lakh applications are pending under this scheme.
Mr. Harish Rao suggested that instead of keeping the applications pending, fresh applications should be invited.
He advised Mr. AK Khan to negotiate with the officials of the Dept. of Education for filling up the posts of teachers. He further told that such of the vacancies of teachers for which SC and ST candidates are not available could be thrown open for which a separate GO has to be issued. He informed that very soon, recruitment to the posts of Sub-Inspectors and constables will be started.
–Siasat News