Funds for minorities welfare may go unspent Fee Scholarship Program: (J.S. Ifteqar THE Hindu Daily) Have they chewed off more than they can swallow? Yes, this appears to be the case with the increased budgetary allocation made to minority welfare departments. The first budget of Telangana has earmarked a whopping Rs.1,030 crore – more than double the Telangana share in the combined State. While there is a general appreciation for the largesse shown by the TRS government the question is whether it will be able to spend the amount before March. Officials admit it is quite impossible. At best the government might spend Rs. 300 crore in the next few months and the rest has to be surrendered. Under the united A.P, the budget for minorities welfare was Rs. 1,027 crore and not more than Rs. 500 crore could be spent. When a lesser amount could not be utilised for 23 districts how can a bigger sum be spent for just 10 districts? “Government has simply tried to please the minorities with big figures,” many say. Mere doubling of outlay will not be helpful without filling the vacancies and providing infrastructural facilities to the understaffed minority welfare departments. Most of the departments like Wakf Board, State Minorities Finance Corporation, Urdu Academy, Minorities Commissionerate and CEDM are working with a skeletal staff. Even if enhanced budget is given there is simply no manpower to utilise it, official admit. An increased allocation of Rs. 500 crore is made for scholarships. But this can be utilised only by increasing the number of beneficiaries. For this government will have to relax the income, age and other eligibility criteria. “At present only 1.25 lakh to 1.35 lakh minority students are availing the post-matric scholarships. The number should be raised to 2.5 lakh by relaxing the eligibility criteria,” Similarly a hefty allocation of Rs. 95 crore is made for the subsidy linked bank loan scheme of State Minorities Finance Corporation. But without changing the stringent guidelines of age imposed last year not many would be benefited. As per the new guidelines those below 21 years and above 40 years can’t avail the scheme. “The age limit has to be relaxed if the enhanced budget is to be spent,” Other schemes like Shadi Mubarak also come with strings attached. Apart from relaxing conditions, government has to create the necessary infrastructure if the higher allocation is to be utilised properly, it is said Though the TS government allocated a whopping Rs.1,030 crore, at best it might be able to spend only Rs. 300 crore
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 11:49:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015