Hyderabad: The state government was finalising short-term and long-term measures for minority welfare following directives from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, said Mohammed Ali Shabbir, adviser to the state government for SC, ST, BC and minorities welfare, at a review meeting with the chairpersons of minority bodies at the State Secretariat on Saturday.
Briefing the media, Shabbir Ali said the meeting discussed several issues including the Budget allocations for various departments for the 2024-25 fiscal year, implementation of the promises made in the Minority Declaration announced by the Congress during the Assembly elections, the fee reimbursement dues, adjustment of terminated staff who worked in residential schools, repairs and restorations of Urdu Ghar and Shadi Khanas across Telangana and the release of funds for the repair and restoration of mosques, idgahs, churches and graveyards.
Shabbir Ali highlighted the need to immediately release funds for the overseas scholarships. It was also decided that the computer centres and Urdu libraries operated by the Urdu Academy should be modernised. Shabbir Ali emphasised that all existing centres should be upgraded with the latest technology and the establishment of new centres should be considered.
He also stressed the importance of ensuring that imams and muezzins receive their monthly honorarium regularly without delays or obstacles. The meeting also covered establishing an Islamic Culture Centre and a Christian Bhavan in Hyderabad. Shabbir Ali emphasised the need to fill all the vacant heads of department positions in various minority welfare departments immediately. He informed that the proposals finalised during the meeting would be presented to the Chief Minister during a review meeting on minority welfare, likely to be held on August 27.
Attendees of the review meeting included Telangana Waqf Board chairman Syed Azmatullah Hussaini, Urdu Academy chairman Taher Bin Hamdan, Telangana Minorities Finance Corporation chairman Obaidullah Kotwal, Christian Minorities Finance Corporation chairman Deepak John, special secretary and commissioner of minority welfare department Tafseer Iqbal and other senior officials.
