Amaravati: Imams and muezzins in Andhra Pradesh will continue to get monthly honorarium, announced Minister for minority welfare N. Md. Farooq.
He told the State Legislative Council in reply to queries that it was the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) that started the scheme when it was in power between 2014 and 2019.
It was in 2016 that the TDP government had announced an honorarium for imams and muezzins who have no income.
The YSR Congress Party government, which came to power in 2019, increased the honorarium from Rd.5,000 to Rs.10,000 for imams and from Rs.3,000 to Rs.5,000 for muezzins, he said.
Soon after coming to power, Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government increased the financial assistance for Haj pilgrims with an annual income of below Rs.3 lakh to Rs.60,000 against Rs.40,000 under the scheme announced by the earlier TDP government. The assistance for those with an annual income of over Rs.3 lakh was increased from Rs.20,000 to Rs.30,000.
The TDP, in its election manifesto for the elections held in May 2024, had promised the honorarium of Rs.10,000 and Rs.5000 each for imams and muezzins respectively. It also promised Rs.1 lakh each for the intending Haj pilgrims.
Minister Farooq announced in the Legislative Council that the TDP-led coalition government will continue providing financial assistance to intending Haj pilgrims. Those leaving for Haj from Vijayawada will be paid Rs.1 lakh each.
The government will also release the funds to pay the arrears for the pilgrims who have undertaken the Haj.
In September, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to implement these poll promises soon. These also include financial assistance of Rs.5,000 for management of each mosque.
The Chief Minister also directed the officials to complete the survey of Wakf Board lands within two years.
