Hyderabad: Minority Bandhu rollout from Aug 16

Hyderabad: The first list of identified beneficiaries will be getting the financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh as part of the State government’s ‘Minority Bandhu’ scheme from August 16.

According to officials, during the review meeting conducted by Finance Minister, T Harish Rao the modalities related to the scheme were discussed. He instructed the officials to conduct a distribution programme on August 16 and ensure cheques reach the identified beneficiaries. The amount will be distributed from the Rs 400 crores sanctioned by the government for providing financial aid of Rs 1 lakh to members of BC communities pursuing traditional occupations.

The meeting held in Secretariat was attended by MIM floor leader, Akbaruddin Owaisi, ministers Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Mahmood Ali, Koppula Eshwar, Gangula Kamalakar, chief secretary Shanti Kumari, minorities secretary Omer Jaleel, finance secretary Ram Krishna Rao and other officials.

Release of overseas scholarships, allocation of lands for graveyards, and release of honorarium to the Imams and Muezzins were other issues discussed.

The govt has released Rs.130 Crores towards the financial assistance of Rs 1Lakh for Minorities and distribution of cheques to beneficiaries will start from the Old City, Hyderabad from 16th of August.

Harish Rao instructed the officials that the selection and distribution of the financial assistance would be based on the population proportion. The minister urged the officials to focus more on the constituencies where the population of minorities is substantial.

Today, immediately after the meeting, the government has released the pending dues amounting Rs.17 Crores for payment of the honourarium of Imams and Mouzzins. The Finance Minister instructed the officials to continuously scrutinize the process of release of the Honourarium every month.

At the meeting, Issues relating to release of Overseas Scholarships, MTF, RTF, allotment of lands for graveyards, release of honorarium to the Imams and Mouzzins were discussed.

On the Request of Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi, CM KCR asked the officials to compile the requests from 2014 to 2023 in the state for the lands for graveyards and Eidgahs and asked officials to expedite work in this regard. The Meeting also discussed the allotment of land for graveyards in Nizamabad and Karimnagar.

As per the instructions of CM KCR, finance secretary to raise the allocation to Rs 400 crores, by adding Rs 130 crores to the existing allocation of Rs 270 crores for the subsidy scheme. He also instructed the officials to expedite the distribution of cheques with priority.

The finance minister asked the officials to scrutinize the 900 applications for CM Overseas Scholarship for the year 2021-22 and selected the candidates based on merit and instructed the Minority Welfare department to start the process for calling New Applications for the year 2023.

On the representation of Akbaruddin Owaisi, Finance Minister has asked the finance secretary to clear pending dues of Rs. 89 Crores towards RTF and MTF Scholarship and Rs. 4Crores for Anees Ul Gurba.

He also urged the officials to speed up Ramp Works at Dargah Pahadi Shareef and expedite the works of women empowerment center at Dargah Barhane Shah at Kanchanbagh.

Mr. Owaisi had request the CM KCR to set up Study circles for Minorities. the govt. decided to start three minority study circles in the state, one each in Hyderabad, Kareemnagar and Nizamabad.

The Government has decided to take up renovation works at Dargah Jahangir Peeran in four Phases, in first phase, the works worth of Rs 10 crores will be taken up.

AIMIM floor leader and PAC Chairman TSLA Akbaruddin Owaisi asked the minister and officials to expedite the clearance of pending applications of Shaadi Mubarak and release the budget of this scheme under “green channel”

Mr. Akbar Owaisi thanked the CM KCR for implementing several schemes for Minorities and said that AIMIM and BRS would continue to work together for the all round development of the state. Nearly 25 Lakh persons belonging to Minorities benefitted under various Welfare Schemes implemented by BRS government in the last 10 years.