Hyderabad: Advisor to the Telangana Government Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Thursday reviewed the arrangements for the Chief Minister’s Christmas Feast. He also pledged structured and accessible support for pastors through transparent policy measures.
He chaired the review at the Secretariat with Minority Welfare Minister Md. Azharuddin, Christian Minorities Finance Corporation Chairman Deepak John, Special Chief Secretary Benhur Mahesh Dutt Ekka, and Minority Welfare Secretary B. Shafiullah. State-level organising committee members also participated.
Pastor support to follow imam-muezzin model
Shabbir Ali said the government had noted every concern raised by Christian community representatives. He reaffirmed the State’s commitment to managing the feast smoothly while supporting pastors and church workers in the long term.
He noted that the Congress government had already launched an honorarium scheme for imams and muezzins. A similar system, he added, would be extended to pastors. This would involve proper registration, eligibility checks, and clear guidelines to ensure only genuine beneficiaries are covered.
To address challenges faced by small churches in rural and tribal areas, he said the registration process would be simplified. The aim, he stressed, is to ensure no pastor is excluded due to resource or location issues.
Feast logistics and Waqf portal issues addressed
On the event’s logistics, Shabbir Ali said that seating, movement, and access would be carefully planned for ministers, officials, bishops, and priests. He urged attendees to cooperate with staff handling parking and passes to avoid delays.
He also responded to earlier complaints about access issues. Delays, he clarified, were caused by transport and crowd control measures—not by exclusion. He stressed that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy remains committed to full engagement with Telangana’s Christian communities.
Speaking on Waqf property updates, Shabbir Ali said officials are working under Central guidelines. He confirmed that many cases on the Umeed portal have been resolved and that pending ones are expected to close soon.
He concluded by calling the Christmas Feast not just a festive event, but a vital platform for building stronger ties between the government and Christian organisations.