Najma Heptullah assures cooperation to Telangana

Hyderabad, Feb 10 (INN): Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najama Heptullah has assured full support to Government of Telangana in implementation of schemes formulated for welfare of Minority communities.

Speaking to a delegation of Telangana Government led by Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali, she said that the Union Government would extend full support to the State Government. She said that the Center would consider release of more funds and inclusion of more schemes to be implemented in Telangana State.

The TS Government delegation comprised of Special Secretary to Government Syed Omer Jaleel, Minorities Welfare Director Mohammed Jalaluddin Akber and Minorities Finance Corporation VC&MD Prof. S. A. Shukoor had a detailed meeting with the Union Minister and discussed various issues pertaining to the minorities' welfare in Telangana. Expressing her happiness, Najma Heptullah said that this was the first time that a delegation from any State has called on her to review implementation of welfare schemes.

Secretary to Government of India Arvind Mayaram and Joint Secretaries Y P Singh and Rakesh Mohan and other officials of the Ministry were present on this occasion.

On the issue of bifurcation of the AP State Wakf Board, Najma Hiptullah promised to take urgent measures and asked the Secretary to Union Government, the Minorities Affairs, to visit Hyderabad on 18th February and hold meeting with the officials of both the state on this issue.

The delegation informed the Minister that more number of applications were received for Pre-Matric Scholarship scheme in the state than the stipulated target and appealed to consider sanctioning of all the applications under the schemes. She agreed to give sanction to a scheme under MSDP at a cost of Rs 38 crores. She also promised to consider implementation of the coaching programmes under Centre for Educational Development of Minorities (CEDM) under Government of India. She also assured to sanction funds for digitilisation and preservation of manuscripts in the world famous institution 'Dairat-ul-Moarif, Osmania University.

The delegation appealed the Union Minister to introduce various training programmes under the 'Ustaad' scheme of Government of India upon which she agreed to implement the Training Programmes for artisans involving the state government.

The meeting lasted for two hours. The delegation will return back to Hyderabad tonight.