CM announces Aid for Schools and Scholarships for Muslims at Seminar Organized By MiM and UAPMAC

Union Minsiter Of HRD Ashraf Ali Fatmi Speaks at Seminar seen seated are MiM Supremo Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi and AP Chief Minister Y S Rajashekar Reddy and Moulana Hameeduddin Aqil Convenor AP United Muslim Action Committee.


HYDERABAD, Jan 13 : Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has announced 100 per cent coverage of Muslim students in pre and post-matric scholarships in the State from the next financial year Inaugurating a two-day national seminar on `challenges and opportunities for Indian Muslims' hosted by All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen and Andhra Pradesh United Muslim Action Committee in the light of Sachar Committee report Findings here on Saturday, Dr. Reddy said i am really delighted to be hear with you to participate in the seminar to know about the Human Resource Committee Report and to hear from Abu Saleh Shariff about the salient features the Sachar Committee Report and to discuss the modalities as how best the report can be implemented. It is a very noble and loudable exercise and I comment every one participated in it and responsible in it, we have heard of length from Abu Saleh Sahab about the plight of the Muslims of our country in some area especially the conditions are deteriorated.

Fortunately 21/2 years back when U.P.A came in power this Government under the stewardship of Shri. Manmohan Singh Ji and overall guidance of Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji have categorically reaffirmed their faith in the upliftment of Minorities especially in the Muslims Minority. After all the Muslim Minority population in India is the highest anywhere in the country and any where in the world. We just cant be silent spectators on and on all inclusive growth leaves away Muslims aside that just cannot happen and any Governance worth its name should not allow that. Shri. Manmohan Singh Ji the Prime Minister has appointed the Sachar Committee who have gone into various facets of development for the Minorities and came out with an exhausted report. Every thing that is possible has to be done to see that the Minorities in the country should definitely feel that they are the part of the Country, part of our civilization, they have got a stake in the country, they are all stake holders in the development and I am quite sure that this Government in the Government of India and our Government in the State will do every thing that is possible, who will leave no stone unturned to see that the Minorities will get their share in the Government. We in Andhra Pradesh like U.P.A Govt. in the center, congress Government in the state, since we came into the Government about 21/2 years back I can now proudly say that we have taken every possible step to see that the lost of Minorities are improved in every possible way.
The 1st year when we came into Government the pre and post matric scholarships that were being paid that were been given to the Minority students were just 4 crores rupees. Last year we increased that to 10 crores and this years we increased further that to 33 crores rupees. Only the other day I have also instructing the department that the quantum of Scholarships, the scholarships that is being paid for individual students should be on par with the other OBC students. Earlier it was not so. Especially the Muslims boys the scholarships was so low that many of them were not bothering to go and apply for that. But I have taken a categorical decision that the scholarships to Minority students shall be on par with other B.C’s and I will assure you that for the next year budget on wards every minority students either pre matric or post matric who is eligible for the scholarship every one of them in the state of Andhra Pradesh will get his scholarship, there will be complete 100% saturation in the scholarships. We believe that Educational opportunities is a must if a community have got to grow and to achieve this, we will do every thing that is possible. I would like to see that the higher educational levels in Muslims in Andhra Pradesh is reasonably OK and that in the lower levels are not that good. This year we have opened 12 new hostels in the state of Andhra Pradesh and exclusively for the Minority Boys and Girls. If this year we have opened 12 in the next year will open at least 36 if not more. I will assure you that we will do every thing that is possible to increase the levels of education in the minority. Even in the Madarsas the education which is taught their, they are big welcome but not only the theosophical teachings but all the other facets of life have to be seen there so as a innovation program in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Propably any other state has it or not I do not know but we have started that if the community agrees we want to give lot more education facilities in Madarsas and I am quite sure that the Minority Department will be interacting with the Madarsas in the next year, all sorts of needful upgradation in Madarsas by way of any grant in aid or lumpsum grant in aid or some sort of a help in what ever possible way we can do, we will be very keenfull and in the state of Andhra Pradesh in the last election we have assured that when Congress party Government comes in to power, we will give in the state 5% reservation to the Minority. We did so last year, atleast 200 boys and girls of Muslim Minority got admission in the Medical colleges and they are studying Medicine, who otherwise would not have studied. Atleast 3000 M.B.A’s and Engineering graduates are perusing their studies because of this reservation but unfortunately a B.J.P leader went to the court against reservation and legal hurdles have come in the way and the problem is presently in the Supreme Court. Inspite of the problems, I assure you that we will do every thing that is possible to see that the 5% reservation to Muslim Minority will be achieved. OK some problems will be there but we will outcome the problems with all “Inshallah” God willing, I am quite sure that we will outcome the problems. Well the housing were given special focus either it is JNNURM or the Rajiv Gruha Kalpa or even in the villages or smaller towns where in we have taken regular weaker section housing programs. Earlier there was a persistant complaint that Muslims were not getting enough share. The 1st years of our Government we have adhered to 20% reservation for Muslims in housing and from this year we have now gone into a saturation concept wherein the officials identify it in villages or in ward or Municipality whether one belongs to Muslim community or whether one belongs to Hindu community or whether one belongs to SC or ST or other OBC’s any one who doesn’t have a shelter on his head, it’s a 100% saturation concept in the state of Andhra Pradesh and every one will get its share. We have started this year and for the next 2 years by year 2009 March we assure you that every houseless belonging to every community in the State of Andhra Pradesh will get shelter. After 58 years of independence if any citizen, if any family doesn’t have a house to live even in a small one room tenant house, I think it is a shame on Democracy, it is a shame on civilization. We will do every thing that is possible to complete it. This year we have taken up a construction of 20 lakhs houses probably no where in the country this sort of a program is going on and this sort of a program will continue for the next 2 years and every soul, every family in the state of Andhra Pradesh whether Muslim, Hindu which ever caste, creed every one will get its due share of housing. Well I also say that there was a persistent complaint that every where and every aspect the Old City was neglected as Mr. Shariff was pointing out. Some how or other the delivery systems may be that they have filed to deliver and their was a persistent complaint that Old City’s developmental activities whether it is a road widening, drain or housing programs in any possible way in street lighting, their progress in old city was not comparable to the other parts of the city. I am glad to announce that in the recent past three months back I have taken almost about 200 crores Old City development package in a special focus manner and in the course of next three years, we will be completing that. Un-Employment in the Muslims is the another major concern we have not started this Indira Kranti Padam in Urban and Rural areas, two years back we have started in the rural areas. Last year we have started in the Urban areas where in women groups are being organized in a small self help groups and the lending to the self help groups will pave the way in a very big way for their self empowerment. Empowerment of women and specially in the Muslims women, empowerment is focused area because we are giving the way subsidy of 6% interest from what the bank give 9% that means the ultimately the self help groups will be liable to pay only 3% interest and this subsidy from Government of Andhra Pradesh which we give as the interest subsidy is linked to the prompt repayment of the women groups and this is really helped in a very big way. Lots of developmental activities are taking place because of bank linkages to the Muslim women and in a very focused manner it will continue this and I will assure the community that Muslim women will definitely be a proud participants in the overall development of their own family. I will do every thing that is possible in this regard. With regard to general employment in the Muslims with regard to their other social and cultural activities involving them into the general developmental activities filling up of their organizations like the Wakf Board, the Haj Committee, the Urdu Academy. Haj Committee and Urdu Academy we have already appointed, the Wakf Board there are some legal problems and as soon as the legal problem is sorted, we will definitely sort that out, the Minority commission also we have appointed, I will assure you that as far as Muslims are concerned we will give every possible signal every consent that Muslims are part of us, Muslims are of us and we will do every thing possible to feel that their problems are taken care off.
Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development Mohammed Ashraf Ali Fatmi said that he would submit the report on the action plan to implement the Sachar Committee report to the Union HRD Minister on January 21.on the likely implementation of the report said the state government would also have to implement the Sachar Committee recommendations in areas like employment. On the likely implementation of the report. Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi said in his long political career he has heard lot about Development and promises for Muslims by many Govts over the years and added if infact all these promises had been done then the Muslims of India would had been the most forward but infact it is the opposite and Muslims still live under bad conditions and there was a urgent need for there upliftment and the MiM Supremo said Sachar Committee Report is an eye opener for all and added that only two chief ministers -- Jalagam Vengala Rao and Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy -- fulfilled the promises they made to the Muslim community.

Sachar Committee member Abusaleh Shariff gave a detailed presentation on the conditions of Muslims in the country and recommendations to improve their lot. Shariff said the percentage of Muslims occupying government posts was negligible and even less were availing bank loans . Many noted academics , Journalists , Non Resident Indians , Managment Students and Islamic Scholars attended the Meeting and jubilee hall was packed with Listeners. MiM MP Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi was the Convenor of the Seminar.Others who attended the meeting were Syed Akbar Nizamuddin Hussaini Saberi ,Moulana Taqi Raza Abedi,Moulana Syed Masood Hussain Mujtahidi,Barrister Sardar Ali Khan, Dr Amirullah Khan ,Prof M.Suleman Siddiqui,Moulana Abdul Raheem Quershi, Mohammed Raheemuddin Ansari and State Govt Ministers Mohammed Ali Shabbir and Mohammed Fareeduddin and Chief Secretary Jannat Hussain . MiM legislators Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, Ahmed Pasha Quadri , Afsar Khan and Moazzam Khan looked after the Arrangments .