HYDERABAD: After announcing the Rs 1 lakh financial assistance scheme for minorities, the Telangana government has instructed officials to commence distribution of the financial assistance cheques from August 16.
Telangana finance minister T Harish Rao has directed officials to release an additional Rs 130 crore, supplementing the existing allocation of Rs 270 crore, making the total allocation Rs 400 crore.
The minister stated that the selection and distribution of financial assistance would be based on the population proportion in each constituency.
He urged officials to give more attention to constituencies with a higher minority population.
Harish Rao also requested the chief secretary to conduct a review of Backward Classes (BC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and minority welfare along with relevant officials.
In line with the chief minister's guidance and recent promises made in the state assembly, the finance minister held a meeting on Tuesday with MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, and ministers Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Mahmood Ali, Koppula Eshwar, Gangula Kamalakar, and other officials.
Various matters were discussed during the meeting, including the approval of Rs One lakh for minorities under the financial assistance scheme, the disbursement of overseas scholarships, the allocation of lands for graveyards, and the provision of honorariums to Imams and Mouzzins.
Harish Rao emphasized that the chief minister and the state government are dedicated to promoting the development of minority communities at the same level as other communities in the state.
He highlighted that two of the assurances concerning graveyards and remuneration for Imams-Mouzzins have already been fulfilled.
Regarding the allocation of land for graveyards and the release of funds for Imams and Mouzzins, Harish Rao instructed officials to compile the total requests for graveyard and Eidgah lands across the state and expedites progress in this direction.
During the meetings, discussions covered the remuneration of Imams and Mouzzins, matters related to Pahadi Shareef Dargah ramp works, Dargah Barhana Shah's rent revision, Christian graveyards, and various funds such as RTF and MTF.
The minister also instructed officials to accelerate the process of the Shadi Mubarak scheme to ensure immediate relief for beneficiaries.
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