KCR directs shifting of Chanchalguda Jail

Hyderabad, Nov 7 (INN): Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday directed the officials to initiate the process of shifting of Chanchalguda Jail and Race Course to other places.

Addressing a review meeting on minorities' issues at his camp office here, the Chief Minister directed that steps should be taken for shifting of Chanchalguda Central Jail and Hyderabad Race Course to other places and start residential schools for minorities in those places. It may be mentioned that the shifting of these two institutions was among the major promises made by the TRS in its election manifesto.

The Chief Minister also announced that 60 Minorities' Gurukul Schools would be started across the Telangana State from next academic year. He said new job-oriented schemes would also be launched for minorities soon. He said the hawkers and vendors of minority communities would be provided financial assistance under a special package.

The review meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali, ACB Director General A.K. Khan, Minority Welfare Director M.J. Akbar and other senior officials.

KCR said that Muslims constitute 12% while other minority communities constitute 2% of the total population in the State. He said immediate steps need to be taken to improve the living conditions of Muslims. He said that the literacy rate among Muslims was very low and drop-out rate is quite high. He said that the State Government would cut down its wasteful expenditure to provide more funds for education of minorities. He said Special Residential Schools will be established in 119 Assembly segments. In the first phase, 30 residential schools each for girls and boys will be established.

The Chief Minister said that the residential schools will be established in rented premises in the first year and they would be shifted to own premises by second year. He said since Muslims are in large numbers in Hyderabad, more space would be required to construct residential schools. Therefore, Chanchalguda Jail and Race Course lands will be utilised for the purpose.

KCR said steps would be taken to provide employment to educated Muslim youth while schemes would be launched to achieve 100% literacy rate in the community.

The Chief Minister also stressed on the implementation of Urdu as the second official language. He said while all residential schools for minorities would be in English medium, Urdu would be the optional language.