KCR keen on uplifting Minorities in all fields: Dy CM

The TRS government was striving for all-round development of the Minorities in all fields, particularly in the Education field, Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali has said here.

Speaking at the Minorities Welfare Day at Ravindra Bharati on Wednesday, the Deputy Chief Minister said the State government would open 60 Residential Schools for the Minorities in the State in the new academic year, while every year 60 more such schools would be opened to improve the educational standards of Minority students. ‘Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is determined to provide 12% reservations to Muslims and STs in the State’, he said, adding ‘passing a bill in this regard in the State legislature is not difficult and the bill will be sent to the Centre for approval’. He said the Chief Minister himself had announced 12% Reservations to the Muslims and Scheduled Tribes and nobody had ever represented to him in this matter.

The function was held to mark 127th Birth anniversary of Moulana Abul Kalam Azad, an eminent scholar, freedom fighter and the first Education Minister of independent India, which was observed as Minorities Welfare Day. Mahmood Ali, while highlighting the importance Education said, ‘It is proposed to declare teaching of Urdu in English Medium schools compulsory.’

On the occasion, the prestigious Moulana Abul Kalam Azad national Award was presented to eminent philanthropist Ghiasuddin Babu Khan for his outstanding services for encouraging higher and professional students among minorities and adopting 100 Urdu Medium Schools in the State by employing Vidya Volunteers and teachers and paying their salaries from his funds.

Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatraya paid glowing tributes to Moulana Abul Kalam Azad and spoke about his sacrifices for the country and asked the people to emulate him and follow rich traditions set by him. He advised the students to pay attention on their education and said, ‘If you learn Urdu better you will learn English better.’

Congress leader and Rajya Sabha Member V. Hunumanth Rao recalled the sacrifices and contribution of Moulana Azad in freedom struggle. He said when Azad was in jail, his wife was seriously ill and the British Raj wanted to release him on parole. But Moulana had refused the offer by saying “If you agree to leave the country, then only I will come out of the jail”. Such was his patriotism for the country, he added.

M. Ramchander Rao MLC, Amin-ul Hassan Jafferi, MLC, Kausar Mohiuddin MLA, Bala Raju MLA, Elvis Stevenson MLA and others participated in the program. Syed Omer Jaleel, Secretary to Government, Jalaluddin Akber, Director of Minorities Welfare department and Prof. S. A. Shukoor also addressed the gathering. B. Shafiullah MD, TSMFC, proposed a vote of thanks.

On the occasion, Best Urdu Teachers Awards and Best Urdu Students Awards were presented to the teachers and students from all over the State. A journalist from KSA Sameera Azeez was also presented with an Award. Certificates to the beneficiaries of “Shaadi Mubarak” and Self-Employment Schemes and assets to the women beneficiaries were also presented. (NSS)