Palle seeks more funds for scholarships
Hyderabad, April 5 (INN): Andhra Pradesh Minorities Welfare Minister Palle Raghu Natha Reddy appealed to the Centre for higher funds under pre-matric and post-matric scholarships to minorities in the State.
He called on Union Minority Welfare Minister Dr. Najma Heptullah on the sidelines of All India Conference of Ministers of Minority Welfare called for by the Centre at New Delhi today.
Urging the Union Minister to sanction saturation level allocation as nearly one lakh minority students still left out of the schoarlship ambit, Raghunath Reddy sought multi sectoral mode allocation of up to 90 per cent to AP for minorities as was being given to the North Eastern States. AP was faced with revenue deficit due to bifurcation issues, and a greater assistance from the centre would not be out of place, he said.
Speaking to the media later, the Minister said he also sought funds for the establishment of Dr. Abdul Huq University and Maulana Azaad University in AP.
AP Government was one of the most committed governments in the country for minority welfare and it had allocated Rs.716 crore in the Budget for the department, he said. In addition it was gifting Rs 50,000 for minority girls getting married and this year fund was earmarked for 10,000 such marriages. AP was also giving Rs.5,000 each to Imams as monthly salary and Rs.3,000 each to Muazzins, he said.
AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had declared Ramzan as a State festival and had announced 'Chandranna Ramzaan Tofa' to Minorities consisting of essential goods and oils so that even a poor family could celebrate the festival happily, he said.
Referring to Urdu Ghar libraries, he said efforts were on to modernize them with computers etc., and there was a special proposal to upgrade the skills of minority students in the State. The Centre should release additional funds for the same he said pleading for Rs.150 crore for the new Haj House at Amaravati.
He also explained the measures undertaken to protect Wakf properties in the State. More Haj pilgrims must be allowed from the State to visit Holy Mecca he said.
News Posted: 5 April, 2016
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