Release honoraria for Imams and Muazzins before the 5th of every month: Harish Rao

Irrigation Minister, Mr. Harish Rao held a meeting of high-level officials of the Dept. of Minorities Welfare continuously for 4 hours. He observed that the implementation of welfare schemes for minorities is very slow. 

He told that a video conference will be held within a week to apprise the District Collectors of the schemes.

He told the officials to release honoraria for Imams and Muazzins before the 5th of every month.Mr. Harish Rao sought the details of allocation and release of minorities’ budget.

Mr. Shafiullah informed that there are 48000 seats in 204 minorities’ residential schools. Next year, 1, 30, 400 seats would be available in these institutions. He told that last year, Rs. 435 crore was spent. This year Govt. allocated Rs. 735 crore.

Mr. Harish Rao issued instructions to Wakf Board to release honoraria to Imams and muazzins immediately. He told them if these payments are not made, the image of Govt. would be



tarnished.

Officials informed that 13000 applications are pending under Shaadi Mubarak Scheme for which amounts have to be released.

Mr. Harish Rao advised the officials to start micro-financing scheme under which Govt. pays 80% subsidy and the applicants have to arrange 20% amount. The officials of Minorities Finance Corporation informed that 1.63 lakh applications are pending under this scheme.Mr. Harish Rao suggested that instead of keeping the applications pending, fresh applications should be invited.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Mohammed Fareeduddin, Mr. Farooq Husain, Mr. Mohammed Saleem (MLCs), Mr. AK Khan, Advisor to Govt. on Minority Affairs, Mr. Dana Kishore, Secretary, Dept. of Minorities Welfare, Mr. Shahnawaz Qasim, Director, Dept. of Minorities Welfare, Mr. B. Shafiullah, Secretary, Minorities Residential Schools Society, Prof. S.A. Shukoor, Director, Urdu Academy, Mr. B. Victor, MD of Christian Finance Corporation and other officials.