Telangana: Wait for aid under bank-linked subsidy schemes gets longer

Last year, the BRS-led government announced financial assistance schemes under two categories for minorities across the State

Hyderabad: It’s a long wait for those who had filed applications with the Telangana State Minorities Finance Corporation (TGMFC) seeking financial assistance for bank-linked subsidy schemes last year.

Last year, the BRS-led government announced financial assistance schemes under two categories for minorities across the State. Under the first category, the applicants were to be provided financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh through banks and in the second category, the loan amount was Rs 2 lakh.

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Although it’s more than a year since the aspirants sought financial assistance, and many of them already received letters informing them that their applications were scrutinised and cleared by the corporation, the amount is not yet to be credited to them.

“I went to the TGMFC office with the documents. The officials told me that the new government has to release the amount, and the higher officials concerned are yet to decide whether to clear applications received during the previous government or call for new applications,” said Mahboob Basha, a resident of Ameerpet.

Several hundreds of people like Basha, have been waiting for more than a year for financial assistance from the corporation. Recently, TGMFC chairman Mohd Obaidullah Kotwal said no decision was taken on clearing the pending applications of the previous government. New schemes will be introduced, and people can apply afresh.

This has not gone well with people. Sources in the corporation said that the government is not willing to clear the pending applications because it will bring good mileage to the BRS party. The aspirants want the corporation to keep away from politics.

“People have spent money for filing the applications and with the hope of improving the economic standards, sought financial assistance from the government as Indian citizens. It should not matter which party is in power in the State,” said Mohd Younus, an applicant.

Recently, the TGMFC announced the ‘Indira Mahila Shakti Scheme‘ and called for applications from deserving women. The corporation plans to provide sewing machines to around 10,000 women in the State. So far, around 1 lakh applications have been received. Another scheme of providing financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to women is also in the offing.

“Instead of introducing new schemes, the Corporation should first clear the pending applications,” complained Syed Rasheed, an applicant from Old City in Hyderabad. Ironically, around 2,000 applications for sewing machines from destitute women are also pending with the corporation for more than 18 months.