TGMFC’s funding plan for women’s training sparks debate over transparency, selection process

Chairman of TGMFC Mohd Obedulla Kothwal on Monday unveiled plans to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 30 lakh to NGOs to train and employ women from minority communities. However, activists stressed the need to introduce transparency to ensure the effectiveness of such initiatives

Hyderabad: The Telangana Minorities Finance Corporation’s (TGMFC) plan to fund voluntary organisations for women’s training and employment has sparked debate with social activists questioning the selection process and calling for open tenders and transparency in the screening process.

Chairman of TGMFC Mohd Obedulla Kothwal, during an interaction with press persons on Monday, unveiled plans to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 30 lakh to NGOs to train and employ women from minority communities. However, activists stressed the need to introduce transparency to ensure the effectiveness of such initiatives.

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“The TGMFC should call for open tenders or proposals from NGOs before handing over the responsibility to any centre. Complete transparency should be maintained in the process. There have been many instances in which certain voluntary organisations were involved in conning people,” says noted socio-political activist Syed Majid Shuttari.

The TSMFC in collaboration with NGOs had established 10 Community Training Cum Production Centres in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Jagtial districts and provided training to women on industrial sewing machines. “The list of such centres that were involved in providing training should be put in the public domain,” demanded Shuttari.

Mir Qurram Ali, a youth leader, said there have been several allegations of misappropriation of funds and duplication by NGOs in the city in recent times. “Ultimately, the funds should not become a source of easy income or profit for the voluntary organisations,” he said.

Kothwal said shortly new schemes for the social and economic uplift of minorities will be announced. He said financial assistance of up to Rs 30 lakh will be available for voluntary organisations to conduct the training programmes for minority women. Some of the other schemes that are being planned include banklinked financial support schemes, job- job-oriented training programmes for youth and women empowerment.

“I have visited 5 to 6 centres managed by the NGOs in partnership with the TGMFC and I am satisfied with their work. A demand has come forward from them to provide sewing and embroidery machines and shortly we will take a decision,” the TGMFC Chairman said.