MIM satisfied with Telangana’s growth figures

Hyderabad, March 7 (INN): MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi has expressed satisfaction over the growth figures of Telangana State which were disclosed by Governor ESL Narasimhan in his address to the Telangana Legislatures on Saturday.

“Though we would know the real state of State’s finances when the State Budget is presented to the Legislature on 11th March, we have been provided reassuring figures about the State’s economic growth during the current financial year. We are told that the GSDP growth for fiscal 2014-015 would be around 5.3 percent, with momentum in industrial and service sector. The per capita income has crossed the Rs one lakh mark and is likely to be Rs 1,03,889 in the current financial year. This is a matter of satisfaction,” Akbaruddin Owaisi said.

Speaking about Minorities’ Welfare, he said that the Governor has assured that the government would earmark Rs 1,000 crore every year for their welfare. The Shaadi Mubarak scheme has been introduced to provide Rs 51,000 assistance to minority girls for their marriage. “Although the government has released over Rs 437 crore for minorities’ welfare so far, there are some issues with regard to the various schemes meant for the minorities. The budgetary releases for fees reimbursement and scholarship schemes so far are sufficient to clear the arrears of fees reimbursement and post-matric scholarships to minority students for the last academic year (2013-14). The government is yet to invite the applications for fresh scholarships and fees reimbursement and renewals for the current academic and financial year, though both these are coming to a close,” he said.

Similarly, the MIM leader said that the sanction of subsidy on bankable loans for minorities for the current financial year has not been done so far since guidelines have not been formulated nor fresh applications are invited. The budgetary releases are sufficient to clear the pending sanctioned applications of last financial year 2013-14. The target under Shaadi Mubarak will also remain unachieved since tough conditions are causing problems to the applicants.

Akbaruddin Owaisi said that the Governor did not mention anything about the constitution of a Commission to study the condition of minorities in the State. “The TRS Government must ensure that the existing four percent reservations for Muslims under BC “E” category are implemented in letter and spirit both in admissions to professional courses and in recruitment in the government departments,” he said.

Further, he said that nothing has been mentioned about the milestones for completion of Outer Ring Road project, Metro Rail project, MMTS Phase II, Krishna Water Supply Phase III and Godavari Water Supply project, Old City package and Charminar pedestrianisation project.

“It is also a welcome step that the Governor has assured that, in tune with the spirit of the Constitution of India, every resident of Telangana would be extended equal treatment without any prejudice. No discrimination would be shown to the residents who hail from Seemandhra but are settled in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana,” Akbaruddin Owaisi said.