Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government has disbursed ₹45 crore over the past six months as honorariums for imams and muezzins, according to Minister for Minority Welfare NMD Farooq. He confirmed that the payment process has been completed.
As part of the TDP-led coalition’s election promise, imams receive a monthly honorarium of ₹10,000, while muezzins are paid ₹5,000.
Farooq also announced that ₹12.82 crore has been allocated for honorariums to Christian pastors, benefiting 8,427 pastors across the state, each receiving ₹5,000 per month. The government has been releasing funds for this initiative since May last year.
Reaffirming the coalition government’s commitment to minority welfare, Farooq criticised the previous YSRCP government for neglecting minority issues. He asserted that the current administration is actively working to fulfil its promises to minority communities.
Addressing the Assembly, Farooq emphasised the government’s responsibility to protect Waqf properties. He assured that efforts are being made to remove encroachments and strengthen the Waqf Board, ensuring these properties generate income for the welfare of Muslim minorities.
The state budget for 2025-26 reflects a 24% increase in minority welfare allocations, with ₹5,434 crore earmarked – ₹1,058 crore more than the previous year. Under the minority sub-plan, ₹2,512 crore has been allocated, while ₹560 crore has been set aside under the CM Jan Vikas scheme to support minority youth through self-employment initiatives.
Farooq highlighted that under TDP’s leadership, both in the past and in the present, Andhra Pradesh has allocated more funds for minority welfare than many other states. He recalled that former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu played a key role in minority welfare initiatives, including securing an Urdu University in Hyderabad despite initial plans to establish it in Lucknow.
He also pointed out that the previous TDP government had allocated 100 acres near Orvakallu Airport in Kurnool district for an Urdu University, but the YSRCP government did not provide any financial support for its development.
Meanwhile, former Deputy Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party leader Amzad Basha accused the coalition government of neglecting minorities and discontinuing key welfare measures, particularly those benefiting Haj pilgrims.
Basha criticised the government for failing to renew the embarkation facility at Gannavaram Airport, which had been secured through the efforts of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Before this facility was established, Haj pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh had to travel to Hyderabad for their journey.
He also noted that boarding at Gannavaram Airport was costlier by ₹80,000 compared to Hyderabad. To address this, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government had agreed to cover the fare difference. However, Basha alleged that the coalition government failed to reimburse last year’s payments and did not protest the Centre’s decision to remove Gannavaram from the embarkation list.
