Year Ender | Substantial allocation for minorities welfare, but disbursal remains patchy

This year, minorities welfare received a shot in the arm with the Telangana government announcing a budget outlay of ₹3,000 crore, the highest in the history of Telangana. Various quarters welcomed the budget, and viewed this move as a crucial step forward for the welfare of minority communities, especially in the field of education.

The Minorities Welfare department and its allied agencies through which schemes are rolled out include the Telangana Minorities Finance Corporation (TGMFC), Telangana State Waqf Board (TGWB), Centre for Education and Development of Minorities and the Urdu Academy (UA), among others.

While acknowledging the allocation as substantial, activists pointed out that new schemes formulated during the first year of the Congress’ term would have given a fillip to spending for welfare. But, bank-linked loans, a flagship programme of the TGMFC were yet to see substantial spending. “Subsidised, small loans to small traders through the Finance Corporation is what will improve their socio-economic conditions, and give petty traders some breathing space. We saw little spending on this front. The Congress government should revitalise the Corporation and ensure funds are directed to bank-linked loans,” said activist S.Q. Masood.

According to data obtained under the Right to Information Act, the budgetary allocation for bank-linked subsidy scheme was ₹300 crore. Till last month, less than a lakh was spent. The spending, about ₹3 crore, went towards salaries.

The recently-concluded assembly session saw impassioned exchanges in the House for the release of funds allocated for reimbursement of tuition fee. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen floor leader made a plea to release funds for the benefit of staff and students, even as he underscored problems this would cause. The Telangana government responded positively.

But educators pointed out that this continues to be a challenge. One educator who manages schools and colleges, pointed out that fee reimbursement funds not being released has been causing a problem for both management of educational institutions and students. While, on the one hand, he conceded that some colleges were withholding educational certificates of students, on the other, with the government not releasing funds, paying staff salaries was becoming difficult. “Not just salaries, colleges are unable to invest in infrastructure and others forms of institutional development,” he said.

A large chunk of funds were earmarked for Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGMREIS) schools and colleges. About ₹350 crore was allocated for salaries, and another ₹200 crore was for contract and outsourcing engagements. Expenses for rents and taxes too saw significant allocations.