Congress government faces questions over minority welfare implementation

Several promises made by the Congress party under its Minority Declaration ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections are yet to be implemented in Telangana. Despite significant budget allocations for minority welfare schemes, expenditure and execution remain low across education, scholarships and employment initiatives

Hyderabad: Before the 2023 Assembly elections, the Congress party had promised the moon to minorities. Under its Minority Declaration, it had made a dozen promises, but even after two-and-a-half years, barring a few, many promises are yet to be fulfilled.

It had assured to provide Rs.1,000 crore annually to facilitate subsidised loans for unemployed minority youth and women. In the financial year 2025-26, Rs.840 crore was allocated to extend the Rs.1 lakh subsidy scheme and the bankable loan scheme for minorities.

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Accordingly, 2,16,859 applications were received and were being scrutinised by the District Collectors. However, the status of these applications is not known yet.

Similarly, the Congress had also promised to introduce the Abdul Kalam Taufe-e-Taleem scheme to provide financial assistance of Rs.5 lakh to youth completing M.Phil and Ph.D. It had also assured to provide Rs.1 lakh upon post-graduation, Rs.25,000 upon graduation, Rs.15,000 for intermediate and Rs.10,000 to students passing Class 10. This assistance is yet to be offered.

Post-matric scholarships (Maintenance and Tuition Fee) were assured to minority students on par with SC, ST and BC students from intermediate to post-graduation, including professional courses, on a saturation basis.

Towards this, the Congress government had allocated Rs.120 crore in 2025-26, but the expenditure incurred was a mere Rs.1.20 crore.

Similarly, the State government sanctions reimbursement of tuition fee to minority students. The reimbursement of tuition fee is admissible from intermediate to PG courses, including professional courses.

While substantial allocations are being made, the implementation has come under scanner. In the 2025-26 financial year, the State government allocated Rs.300 crore, but the actual expenditure incurred was Rs.68.77 crore.

The Telangana Minorities Study Circle is providing coaching to minority students for competitive examinations, including Group I, II, III and IV, Staff Selection Commission and others, resulting in their employment.

In the budget, Rs.4 crore was allocated, but only Rs.3 crore was released to the Minorities Welfare department. Of this, expenditure of just Rs.3 lakh was incurred.