Hyderabad: Minorities are worried about possible cuts in budgetary allocations for schemes meant for minorities in the Budget to be presented in the ensuing Assembly session.
There is speculation that the finance department has cut down the allocations for many schemes on the instructions of Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao, in view of the financial crisis.
The TRS government had allocated Rs 2,004 crore for the minorities in the vote-on-account and Rs 799 crore has been released.
The minorities welfare department has submitted proposals for Rs 2,195 crore for schemes and programmes meant for the minorities for the complete Budget, which is Rs 191 crore higher than the approved allocation in the vote-on- account that was presented in February.
Rumours have been rife that the finance department has suggested only Rs 1,200 crore towards the minorities for the current financial year instead of Rs 2,004 crore, which means that many welfare schemes will be scrapped, as funds will be utilised for particular schemes and programmes such as residential schools, scholarship for overseas studies and Shaadi Mubarak.
Other schemes like loan, promotion of Urdu language and development of Wakf properties will be hampered. The construction of Anees ul Gurba, the proposed Inter-national Islamic Culture Centre, renovation of Mecca Masjid, and construction of Christian Bhavan and Sikh Bhavan will be put on hold.
Sources said if the government reduces the allocation, then each scheme will have to be reviewed.
Mr Ilyas Shamsi, president of the Reformers Front of India, said there is no progress in establishing a Skill Development Centre. He said government should keep its electoral promises and continue the existing schemes without reducing funding.
