Hyderabad: A coalition of Muslim scholars, activists, and community leaders has urged Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to immediately release pending Post-Matric Scholarships for minority students. The appeal follows mounting concerns that prolonged delays under the state’s Reimbursement of Tuition Fee scheme are pushing thousands of students into debt and forcing some to drop out.
Prominent signatories include Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, SQ Masood of ASEEM, and Mohammad Faraz Ahmed of the Students’ Islamic Organisation. Their joint letter warned that delays have left more than 1.49 lakh applications pending, with many students unable to collect original certificates from colleges because of unpaid fees. Without these documents, graduates are unable to apply for jobs or pursue higher education.
Official data accessed through the Right to Information Act shows a sharp fall in sanctioned applications. In 2020-21, more than 1.15 lakh students benefitted, but by 2023-24 only 40 were approved. For the current academic year 2024-25, no applications have been sanctioned so far.
The problem persists despite higher budget allocations. The state set aside ₹300 crore for 2024-25, yet only ₹41.86 crore has been spent as of January. Officials admitted that funds released to district offices remain stuck at the Finance Department, leaving commitments unmet.
Community leaders have demanded three immediate measures: release of pending scholarships, creation of a transparent disbursement mechanism, and an emergency fund to clear backlogs. They also urged the government to direct colleges not to withhold certificates.
Educationists warn the delays will raise dropout rates among Muslim students, worsening their marginalisation in higher education. Critics argue that the situation undermines the government’s pre-election promises and risks excluding minority youth from Telangana’s expanding opportunities in technology, healthcare, and other growth sectors.
