Hyderabad: AIMIM has demanded the Congress government in Telangana to enhance honorarium for imams and muezzins in the state.
AIMIM MLC Mirza Riyaz Ul Hassan Effendi made the demand in the Telangana Legislative Council. He recalled that the scheme was introduced in 2016 by then Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on a demand made by AIMIM leader in Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi.
The MLC also urged the government to pay honorarium to imams and muezzins on time. He said the delay in payments was causing hardships. He wanted the government to ensure payment of honorarium through green channel so that there are no hurdles from the Finance Department.
Minister Seethakka told the Council that imams and muezzins have not been paid honorarium since August 2024. She said Rs.34 crore will be released soon to pay the arrears.
Ahead of Assembly polls last year, the then BRS government had announced an honorarium of Rs.5000 per month to nearly 7,000 more imams and muezzins across the state.
The government had increased the number of beneficiaries for the honorarium scheme from 9,995 to nearly 17,000.
When the scheme was first introduced, imams and muezzins were receiving Rs.1,000 per month. In 2018, this was increased to Rs.1,500.
