(Siasat News) Estimates Committee of A.P. State Assembly held a meeting to review the implementation of various welfare schemes by the Dept. of Minorities Welfare. Mr. Muthyam Reddy, MLA was the Chairman of the committee. Mr. K.R. Amose, Hafiz Peer Shabbir Ahmed, Mr. Nageshwar Rao, Mr. Raj lingam, Mr. Veera Shiva Reddy, Mr. M. Vishnu and Mr. M. Mahinder Reddy attended the meeting. The members of the Estimate Committee impressed upon the Dept. of Minorities Welfare to implement its schemes to utilize the budget of Rs. 1027 Crore allocated for the Dept. it expressed its discontentment about the slow functioning of the Dept. they instructed the official to extend the benefits of the Welfare schemes of the Govt. to Minorities.
Secretary of Minorities Welfare, Ms. Neelam Sahani, IAS, Mr. Shaik Mohammed Iqbal, IPS Commissioner of the Dept. of Minorities Welfare, Mr. Mohammed Hasham Shareef, Vice Chairman and M.D. of Minorities Finance Corporation, Mr. Uma Shankar, Director of Christian Finance Corporation, Prof. S.A. Shukoor, Director of Urdu Academy, Mr. M.A. Hameed, OSD, Dept. of Minorities Welfare, Mr. Faiq Ahmed, Mr Mirza Hassan Ali Baig, Survey Commissioner of Wakfs, Prof. Mohammed Mustafa Shareef, Director of Dairtul Maarif of Osmania University, Mr. M.A. Gaffar, CEO, APSWB and other officials attended the meeting.
The members of the committee put various questions about the protection of Wakf lands belonging to Hzt. Shah Wali Dargah and the illegal constructions of Lanco hills. The officials of Wakf Board told that, Wakf Board is making serious attempts in this case. The legal proceedings are in progress in Supreme Court of India. The committee instructed the CEO Wakf Board to furnish the details of Manikonda Wakf land to the members within (2) days. The members of the committee expressed their anguish about the ongoing construction of Lanco hills. It is reported that Mr. M. Vishnu, MLA told the Wakf Board to take necessary steps to protect Wakf lands situated in Vijayawada. Separately of the Dept. of Minorities Welfare highlighted the functioning of the Dept. and gave the details of the utilization of the budget during the current financial year.
Mr. Shaik Mohammed Iqbal told that the construction of residential schools and hostels for Minorities students is being taken. On preferential basis. All the district collectors have been requested to identify suitable lands for the construction of hostel for girls and residential schools. The members enquired about the non-payment of scholarship amounts to the students. It is probable that some amount would remain unspent from the budget allocated for scholarships which could be diverted to the construction of hostels.
Hafiz Peer Shabbir Ahmed, pointed out that the computers in the computer centres of Urdu Academy have become defunct. Prof. S.A. Shukoor told that a proposal has been sent to the Govt. to sanction Rs.1.2 crore for modernization of computers. Secretary and Commissioner told the committee that it is not possible to revive the scheme of open schools during this financial year. It could be considered during next year. The members of the committee expressed their displeasure over the slow implementation of minorities schemes. Mr. K.R. Amose told that the amount allocated by the Govt. for payment of pensions to widows is insufficient. He suggested that the children of these widows could be provided free educations. Explanation was sought on the slow progress made in digitalization of Wakf properties. Survey Commissioner of Wakf Mr. Hasan Ali Baig told that certain Govt. agencies are being contacted for undertaking digitalization work and very soon an institution will be identify to entrust this work. Hafiz Peer Shabbir Ahmed sought information about the tenders for Haj camp. He told that he received some complaints. Special Officer of Haj has been entrusted with the job of investigating these cases. Almost all the members of estimate committee impressed upon the officials of the Dept. of Minorities Welfare to utilize the complete budget allocated for its welfare schemes.
—–Siasat News