HYDERABAD: Speakers at a conference on welfare of minorities have demanded that the Government accord the same importance to the uplift of Muslims as it was doing for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

They lamented that minorities were not getting their due share in welfare programmes because of the lackadaisical attitude of the officials and lack of political will. They were participating in an interactive session on Prime Minister's 15-point programme for welfare of minorities organised by Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Minorities Welfare Minister Md. Ali Shabbir said a series of welfare measures, including establishment of educational institutions, liberal loans for self- employment schemes and construction of houses were initiated by the Government.

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy would convene a meeting of senior officials shortly to review the welfare programmes for the minorities, he added.

Former Minister Basheeruddin Babu Khan said the Government should launch new self-employment programme for the educated unemployed. Chairman of State Minorities Commission Yousuf Quereshi wanted residential schools for the Muslims in all districts.

Andhra Pradesh Urdu Academy Chairman Abdul Raheem Ansari lamented that only Rs. 50 per month was given as scholarship for children. State Haj Committee chairman Hafeez Peer Shabbir Ahmed demanded a status paper on minorities welfare.

Principal Secretary (Minority Welfare) Chaya Ratan said the budget for minority welfare had been enhanced from Rs. 68 crore to Rs 123 crore. MD of State Minorities Finance Corporation Mirza Hussain Ali Baig and the PIB deputy director general M. V. V. S. Murthy spoke.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail