Telangana CM clears loan, quota subsidies for Muslims

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday cleared a series of sops for Muslims including easier loans and reservations.

At a review meeting held at Pragathi Bhavan on development and welfare of Muslims, Mr Rao announced loans up to Rs 2.50 lakh for youth with 100 per cent subsidy and without bank linkage for self-employment schemes.

He announced a 10 per cent quota in 2BHK scheme and quota in all welfare schemes for Muslims. All entrance and recruitment exams are to be held in Urdu apart from English and Telugu. Mr Rao also approved government recognition to the courses offered by Jamia Nizamia.

The Chief Minister said the Charminar area would be developed along the lines up the Golden Temple in Amritsar and the 42-km Musi riverfront along the lines of the Sabarmati riverfront.

MIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi and MIM Assembly floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi were present at the meeting.

Mr Asaduddin Owaisi praised the Chief Minister for his initiative to set up minority residential schools in a big way and said this would bring about a social revolution among Muslims in the next decade.

The MIM president said several Muslim families were eager to send their children to the residential schools as the standard of teaching was good, as were the food and accommodation in the hostels.

Mr Rao replied that setting up the institutions had given him more satisfaction than sanctioning crores of rupees for the welfare of minorities.

The Chief Minister asked officials to strengthen the Minority Development Corporation, Urdu Academy and the Wakf Board.

“Minorities in large numbers in the state face similar problems faced by the SCs and STs.  Muslims are in majority among the other minorities. There is abject poverty among the minorities like in the case SCs and STs,” the Chief Minister noted.