Hyderabad: Minority welfare spending criticism intensified as BRS senior leader Shaik Abdullah Sohail accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil its Rs.4,000 crore promise and underutilising allocated funds.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Sohail said the government had not translated budget allocations into tangible benefits for minorities. He alleged that the current spending levels ranked among the lowest in recent years.
He said the Congress government, which came to power in December 2023, had promised an annual allocation of Rs.4,000 crore for minority welfare. However, he noted that the 2025–26 budget allocated Rs.3,591 crore, while the 2026–27 budget proposed Rs.3,769 crore, both below the promised figure.
Minority welfare spending criticism flags inflated allocations
Sohail said minority welfare spending criticism also stemmed from the way allocations were structured. He alleged that a portion of the funds was linked to general schemes such as the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam programme, which covered SC, ST and BC communities.
He said excluding such clubbed allocations would significantly reduce the actual amount earmarked exclusively for minorities. He also pointed out that Rs.1,000 crore was allocated last year under the scheme for minorities.
However, he said the government did not disburse even a single rupee as loans to unemployed minority youth.
Minority welfare spending criticism targets utilisation gaps
Sohail cited official budget figures to support the minority welfare spending criticism. He said that in 2024–25, the government spent only Rs.793.79 crore against a revised estimate of Rs.2,150.78 crore.
He said this reflected a utilisation rate of just 37% and resulted in a shortfall of over Rs.1,357 crore. He described this as a major setback for minority welfare programmes.
He added that although allocations increased over the years, actual spending declined. He said expenditure rose from Rs.1,269.98 crore in 2023–24 to higher estimates of Rs.2,258.45 crore in 2024–25 and Rs.2,845.52 crore in 2025–26.
However, he alleged that the government lacked both the intent and capacity to implement these allocations effectively.
Minority welfare spending criticism highlights education concerns
Sohail said minority welfare spending criticism extended to delays in scholarship disbursal. He stated that funds for pre-matric, post-matric and overseas scholarships had not reached students on time.
He pointed out that the tuition fee reimbursement allocation dropped from Rs.300 crore in 2025–26 to Rs.100 crore in 2026–27. He said this reduction would adversely affect minority students.
He also referred to allocations for the Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society. He said the government earmarked Rs.723.72 crore for establishment expenditure and Rs.625 crore for schemes in 2026–27.
However, he alleged that infrastructure and hostel facilities did not improve in proportion to the allocations.
Minority welfare spending criticism questions unfulfilled promises
Sohail said minority welfare spending criticism also focused on unfulfilled assurances in the Minority Declaration. He said the government had not provided clarity on schemes such as Abdul Kalam Taufa-e-Taleem for higher education support.
He also said there was no progress on enhanced honorarium for Imams and Muezzins, increased Shaadi Mubarak assistance or a dedicated minorities sub-plan.
He alleged that the government failed to conduct regular reviews of minority welfare schemes, which led to delays and weak monitoring.
Sohail demanded full utilisation of allocated funds and fulfilment of the Rs.4,000 crore commitment. He called for transparency, timely scholarship disbursal and dedicated funding for minority-specific schemes.
He warned that continued underutilisation would worsen socio-economic challenges faced by minorities. He said the government must ensure that allocated funds reach intended beneficiaries without delay.