Welfare schemes for minorities halt for want of cash

All welfare schemes meant for minorities in TS have ground to a halt due to funds not being released by the state government.

According to records available with this newspaper, of the `1,200 crore allocated for minorities’ welfare, only `272 crore was released till the end of October, 2016.

Though the state government has allocated `150 crore to the Shaadi Mubarak scheme to provide financial assistance of `51,000 to the bride’s family at the time of marriage to meet the marriage related-expenses, no funds were released and bills amounting to `42 crore are pending at treasury and district minority welfare offices.

According to sources in the minority welfare department, as many as 10,000 applications for Shaadi Mubarak scheme are pending in the district offices, including 6,000 in Hyderabad alone.

Sources revealed that `50 crore was allocated in the Budget for scholarships to minority students but not a single rupee has been cleared. Similarly, under RTF scholarship scheme `238 crore was sanctioned, but bills worth `66.31 crore were cleared.

The government has released `15 crore for Overseas Study Scheme for Minorities though `30 crore was earmarked in the Budget in 2016. Of this `15 crore, the government cleared bills for `6.87 crore and bills amounting to `8 crore are pending.

Similarly bills of `20 crore under the pre-matric scholarship scheme and `87.5 crore under assistance to Telangana Residential Schools and hostels for minorities are pending with the treasury.

When contacted, Deputy Chief Minister Mohd. Mahmood Ali, who also holds the minority welfare portfolio, admitted that there was dip in releasing funds to various welfare schemes.