Hyderabad: Study circles get no funds

Hyderabad: The tall claims of the state government in preparing students of minority communities for competitive and job seeking examinations stand exposed with the budget to two important organisations not released so far.

The government had allocated a budget of Rs 8 crore to the Telangana Minority Study Circle for the financial year 2017-18 but so far the budget for single quarter (April-June) has not been released.

The minority study circle imparts coaching to minority candidates preparing for job seeking competitive exams announced by the Telangana State Public Service Commission including Group I, II, III and IV, Staff Selection Commission, Bank Probationary Officers, Police and Armed Forces Recruitment etc. 

The centre was set up in the 2016 and a budget of '6 crore was sanctioned for the financial year 2016-17. “Last year a budget of only Rs 1.25 crore was released of the total allocated amount of Rs 6 crore. This year nothing has been released so far,” said a faculty member. 

According to sources, the faculty is reluctant to take classes at the centre because of delay in payment of salaries/wages. So far, this year the department has conducted coaching for entrance examinations for forest officers posts, foundation courses for various basic competitive exams while Group IV and Village Revenue Officer are in progress. 

About 100 students were selected by the Minority Study Circle for coaching for civil services. The government had planned to spend Rs 1.5 lakh on each of the students. A monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 for district candidates and Rs 2,500 for city candidates was to be paid to them. The classes were started last month and with no budget sanctions the students are also in a dilemma.

The Centre for Educational Development of Minorities (CEDM) is also facing a fund crunch. The centre started helping the minority candidates clear the admission tests conducted by various institutions and universities. A budget of Rs 4 crore was allocated to the centre this financial year but only Rs 1 crore was released so far. Ironically, the government released half of the Rs 3 crore budget last year. About 5,000 students enroll for the coaching programs held at Nizam College in the city and various centers in the district.

Syed Najam, a social activist pointed out, the CEDM should have more branches in the city including minority pockets to fulfill its objective. However, when we meet the officials concerned they cite budget constraints.

The officials argued that the CEDM conducts coaching round the year and also publishes several books for the students to be provided free of cost. The centre also provides financial assistance of Rs 26,000 every month to 60 Urdu medium government schools for conducting special coaching after school hours.

When contacted, director CEDM Professor S.A. Shukhoor said that they had written to the state government and sent reminders for the release of the budget so that they could pay the faculty on time and take up new initiatives.

“We expect the government to release the budget soon. There is a positive reply from the higher officials,” he said.