· Advisor to Telangana Government reviews Haj House plan, Moharram coordination, scholarships and Shaadi Mubarak scheme
· Shabbir Ali directs officials to ensure timely delivery and transparency in minority welfare initiatives
Hyderabad, May 5: Advisor to the Telangana Government Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Monday chaired a detailed review meeting with senior officials at the Telangana Secretariat to assess the status of minority welfare schemes, Central government programmes, and key issues concerning the Waqf Board.
The meeting featured critical discussions on the functioning of the Telangana State Waqf Board, delays in flagship minority welfare schemes like Overseas Scholarships and Shaadi Mubarak, and coordination efforts for upcoming Moharram arrangements. Shabbir Ali directed officials to ensure accountability, transparency, and time-bound implementation of all pending initiatives.
A major issue highlighted was the non-utilised building adjacent to the Haj House, constructed during the previous Congress regime after acquiring two commercial properties for several crores. Despite being structurally completed, the building has remained unused for years. Shabbir Ali urged officials to remove all hurdles and prepare a utilisation plan at the earliest, especially for community-centric purposes such as services for Haj pilgrims.
Expressing serious concern over Waqf property protection, Shabbir Ali demanded a clear action plan for safeguarding Waqf assets across the state. He cited the Moin Manzil land case as a glaring example of legal failure, where the Waqf Board’s counsel did not act decisively to prevent encroachment on prime land. He also sought an updated list of Dargahs under the direct management of the Waqf Board, stressing the need for robust oversight to prevent further mismanagement and unauthorised occupations.
In view of the upcoming Moharram processions, Shabbir Ali reviewed inter-departmental coordination involving the Forest Department, Police Department, Waqf Board, and the Minority Welfare Department for arranging elephants and ensuring smooth conduct of religious events. He asked all departments to work in harmony to preserve religious customs while maintaining law and order.
He also reviewed the PM Vikas Programme, a Central government initiative aimed at skill development and entrepreneurship among minorities. Shabbir Ali enquired about the status of project proposals, disbursal of central grants, and urged officials to proactively follow up with the Centre to ensure Telangana receives its rightful share.
Raising alarm over the delay in the Chief Minister’s Overseas Scholarship scheme, Shabbir Ali was informed by the officials that of the ₹130 crore allocation, nearly 76% of funds had been released, but ₹103 crore in old dues remain pending. He questioned the reasons for the backlog and instructed officials to expedite the processing of applications to avoid disrupting the academic careers of students planning to study abroad.
On the Shaadi Mubarak scheme, meant to provide financial assistance for the marriage of minority girls, Shabbir Ali was informed that while around 48,000 applications had been received, nearly 7,900 cases remain pending. Officials claimed that fund availability was not a constraint, but delays in verification, particularly in Hyderabad, Medchal, and adjoining areas, were holding up the process. Shabbir Ali directed the department to write to the respective District Collectors immediately and clear all pending applications without delay.
He also reviewed the implementation of BC (E) reservation in employment and education, and instructed that comprehensive data be collected from all departments to evaluate representation and policy effectiveness. He specifically asked for a report from all Heads of Departments detailing appointments of Muslim candidates under the BC (E) quota, their performance in recent recruitments on merit, and their overall strength in each department.
Shabbir Ali instructed all concerned departments to submit detailed progress reports on the discussed schemes and warned against bureaucratic delays. He emphasised that the welfare of minorities is a top priority for the Congress government and assured that pending issues would be addressed with urgency and seriousness. (eom)