HYDERABAD: Announcing a number of sops for Muslims, including introduction of free mid-day meal in madarsas, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Saturday declared the birthday of Moulana Abul Kalam Azad (November 11) as `Minority Welfare Day' in the State.

At a function organised by the Urdu Academy of Andhra Pradesh for distribution of computers to madarsas here, Dr. Reddy said that the Minorities Welfare Day would be dedicated exclusively to address problems of minorities.

Describing Muslim reservations as a subject close to his heart, Dr. Reddy said that the Government would soon promulgate an ordinance to effect the reservations. He said: "Within a month, we should be able to overcome all the hurdles in giving reservation to Muslim minorities."

Though the madarsas were intended for imparting religious and philosophical education, they were now turning to modern education to ensure better life for their students. Madarsas had been officially recognised as service organisations, he said, adding that the Government was ready to give grants for introducing modern education like computers, English, mathematics and sciences, if they desired. "During the NDA regime at the Centre and the TDP rule in the State, madarsas were looked down upon as centres for ISI activities and communal tensions. But now, they are seen as centres of learning," said Dr. Reddy evoking another round of applause. Chief Minister wondered as to why they shouldn't get the benefits on a par with SCs and BCs. Therefore, the Government enhanced the scholarship budget from Rs. 4 crore in 2004-05 to Rs. 80 crore.

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