By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Hyderabad: Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Kiran Kumar Reddy played a big stroke before the state and general elections to silence his Muslim political critics who were terming him a ‘communal’ chief minister. Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh, in a clear political message, to minorities increased their budget allocation to almost 110%.
Finance Minister Alam Narayan Reddy, who presented Rs.1.61 lakh crore (Rs. I trillion) for Budget 2013-2014 in the state assembly allocated Rs. 1027 crore (Rs. 10.27 billion) for minorities welfare. A massive 110% increase from Rs. 480 crore (4.8billion) which was provided last year.
Kiran Kumar Reddy along with congress Muslim leaders
Congress party in Andhra Pradesh, by their immense budget, tried their best to reach out to the weaker sections of the society. Separate agriculture budgets of Rs. 25,962 crore were allotted for peasant welfare. The first of its kind in the nation, implementing a separate sub plans for SC and ST’s, Government allotted 16% of state budget of Rs. 8,585 crore (Rs.85.8 billion) for SC and Rs.3666 crore (36.6 billion) 6% of state budget to ST’s.
Even after 110% increase minorities who formed 12% of state population doesn’t have proportional share in the state budget 2013-2014 but whereas the budget allocation to SC and ST’s in separate sub plan were exact to their share of state population.
But in a major move Finance minister announced formation of Commissioner for minorities’ welfare. For this Government sanctioned 69 posts to work for minority welfare and grievance redress in capital and different minority concentrated districts.
Finance Minister, while presenting minority’s budget said priority is given for promotion of education amongst minority children especially girls. To fast-track the development of minorities Government will focus on to strengthen economic support schemes like self-help group inclusion, training and skill development programs, better marketing and infrastructure support.
Finance Minister Reddy also announced establishment of pre and post-metric hostels and residential schools in 12 minority-concentrated districts. He also announced setting up of three residential coaching centers for minorities at Kadapa, Nizamabad and Pileru (Chittoor) for improving the participation and performance of minorities in competitive examinations.
The outlay of the state Rs.10.2 billion budget for minorities is as follows:
Rs.310 crore are allotted for merit scholarship program, Rs.320 crore for fee reimbursement of economically poor minority students, State Urdu Academy got 15.1 crore, Wakf Board grant in aid Rs.33 crore , for State Haj committee Rs.2 crore, for minority mass marriages program Rs.5 crore, for granting subsidy on loans Rs.118.5 crore, Diratal-Maruf got Rs.2 crore, for minorities finance corporation Rs.41.5 crore, for christen minority finance corporation Rs.42.55 crore, for minority girls residential schools 1.58 crore, for Wakf properties survey Rs.11.5 crore, for construction of Urdu ghar and minority marriage centers Rs.10 crore, for construction of minority hostel and residential buildings Rs.38.50 crore, and Rs.70 crore for contribution in central government minority scholarships.
The presentation of substantial minority budget brought mixed responses from Muslim political leaders. While Congress Muslim leaders were quick to welcome it by heralding chief minister, other Muslim political leaders termed it as political budget with no intention of implementation.
Muslim political critics of Congress Government pointed out that in last year 480 crore budget only 70% were utilized. In fact Government didn’t even release the fourth installment of minority welfare budget of last year. The last year budget allocation of 96 crore for scholarships and 220 crore for fee reimbursement are not being fully utilized by Minority Finance Corporation, so it is difficult to believe that MFC will utilize the increased 300 and 320 crore for scholarships and fee reimbursement respectively.
Muslim leaders believe that 110% increase in minority budget will be fruitful only if department of Minorities welfare will be able to implement and utilize it.