Upgrade computer centres in Urdu Academy: Opposition

Hyderabad: The members of Congress and MIM in Legislative Council on Wednesday demanded that the government upgrade the age old computers and courses offered in the ailing library-cum-computer centres in Urdu Academy.

While referring to the promises made by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in regard to restoring Urdu as second language in Telangana, the leader of Opposition in Legislative Council, Mohammed Ali Shabbir said that while the neighbouring State of Andhra Pradesh had upgraded the computers and hiked salaries of the contract staff working for more than 15 years, but Telangana, where 9-districts have recognised Urdu as second language, was lagging behind.

He said that for the past nine years the computer centres were operating with old equipment. “No new computers were provided for the 43 centres running in the State jeopardising the future of these centres,” he said. Almost all the centres were running under rented buildings and the rent has not been paid for several months.

MIM member Ameen-ul-Hassan Jafri said that his party has already represented the issue several times demanding upgrading of courses and engaging full time faculty members. He said that the government should reconsider the timing of the courses, which clash with regular college timings.

He felt that the change of time to early morning or evening hours would help students studying in Intermediate and graduation to avail the opportunity and attend the courses offered by Urdu Academy. He demanded the government to provide details as to how many students were trained after the State was separated and new government took power.

Replying to the queries during question hour, Finance Minister Eatela Rajender blamed the delay in providing funds to some technical problems, as the centres were transferred from Directorate of Minority to Minority Finance Corporation. He assured to upgrade the computer centres by releasing the pending funds of more than Rs 1.4 crore shortly.