Hyderabad, July 25: In the highest-ever allocation for minority welfare, the government of Telangana has proposed Rs.3,003 crores in the state budget 2024-25.
Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who presented a Rs.2.91 lakh crore budget, announced the record allocation for minorities welfare.
This is the highest-ever allocation for minority welfare since Telangana state was created in 2014 but still short of Rs.4,000 crores allocation promised by the Congress party in Assembly elections held in November 2023.
In the vote-on-account budget for 2024-25, which was presented in February, Rs.2,262 crores were earmarked for minority welfare.
The previous government of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) had allocated Rs.2,196 crore in 2023-24 budget.
The Congress government on Thursday presented its first full-fledged budget.
“Protection of rights of Minorities and their development will contribute to the all-round development of the State. Our Government is aware of this and has taken up measures for their welfare,” the finance minister said.
He mentioned that the government is providing free coaching for civil services exams to minority students along with BC, SC & ST students. The government is engaging experienced tutors for this purpose. The coaching is being given in the most effective and modern way. These students would be given a stipend of Rs.2,500 if they are local and Rs.5,000 if they are non-locals, he announced.
The finance minister also stated that the government has sanctioned Rs.33 crores this year for Ramadan celebration and Rs.50 lakhs for repair and maintenance of Ashoor Khanas. He revealed that the government released Rs.2.4 crores for the meeting of Tabligi Jamat in January 2024 and Rs.4.43 crores for Haj pilgrims.
In the Minority Declaration released ahead of Assembly elections, the Congress party had promised to increase minorities welfare budget to Rs.4,000 crore along with a dedicated minorities sub-plan.
However, the government allocated only Rs.3,000 crore, apparently due to financial constraints on account of huge outstanding public debts of over Rs.6.71 lakh crore.
Minorities make up 14.24% of the total population of Telangana. The allocation for minority welfare was Rs. 1,030 crore in 2014-15.
The allocation touched Rs. 2,000 crore in 2018-19 but dropped to Rs. 1,369.95 crore in 2019-20. The allocation crossed Rs.2,200 in 2023-24.
The Minority Welfare Department was established in 1993 in united Andhra Pradesh and at that time the Budget for minority welfare was a meagre Rs 1.20 crores.
While the allocation has increased substantially over the years, there have been complaints that the entire amount allocated to various minority institutions is either not released or even if released it is not spent.
