Hyderabad: Advisor to the Telangana Government Mohammed Ali Shabbir chaired an extensive review on Monday at the state Secretariat, scrutinising the implementation of minority welfare programmes, the functioning of the Telangana State Waqf Board, and Central government initiatives, with an emphasis on transparency and urgent delivery.
During the meeting, Shabbir Ali expressed concern over delays in flagship schemes such as the Overseas Scholarship and Shaadi Mubarak. He directed senior officials to ensure that all bottlenecks were removed and that beneficiaries were not left in limbo due to administrative lapses.
A key highlight of the discussion was the fate of an unused building constructed adjacent to the Haj House. Built during the earlier Congress tenure after acquiring two commercial properties at significant cost, the facility has remained idle for years. Shabbir Ali instructed officials to devise a utilisation plan at the earliest, stressing that the premises should be repurposed to support services for Haj pilgrims and other community needs.
He also raised serious questions about the Waqf Board’s failure to protect its assets. Citing the Moin Manzil land dispute as an example of weak legal strategy and lack of accountability, he demanded a detailed action plan to safeguard Waqf properties across the state. Additionally, he asked for an updated inventory of Dargahs managed directly by the Board and called for enhanced oversight to prevent encroachments and mismanagement.
In light of the upcoming Moharram processions, Shabbir Ali reviewed preparations involving the Police, Forest Department, Waqf Board, and the Minority Welfare Department. He instructed departments to work in coordination, including making arrangements for elephants used during religious processions, to ensure a smooth and respectful observance of customs.
Reviewing the implementation of the PM Vikas programme, a Centre-sponsored initiative aimed at minority entrepreneurship and skills training, Shabbir Ali urged officials to intensify follow-up with the Central government to secure Telangana’s fair share of funds. He enquired about the status of project proposals and grant disbursement, urging proactive engagement to avoid further delays.
On the Overseas Scholarship scheme, officials informed him that ₹130 crore had been allocated, of which 76% had been released. However, Shabbir Ali flagged that ₹103 crore in pending arrears were delaying progress and putting students’ academic futures at risk. He instructed immediate action to fast-track application processing.
Regarding the Shaadi Mubarak scheme, meant to provide marriage assistance for minority families, officials reported over 48,000 applications had been filed, but 7,900 cases remained unresolved, largely due to verification delays in districts such as Hyderabad and Medchal. Shabbir Ali instructed the department to liaise directly with District Collectors and clear the backlog without further excuse.
He also called for a review of BC (E) reservations in government recruitment and education, directing all departments to compile detailed data on Muslim representation. This included figures on appointments, merit-based selection, and departmental distribution under the BC (E) quota.
Wrapping up the session, Shabbir Ali warned against bureaucratic inertia and said minority welfare remained a core commitment of the Congress government. He instructed all departments to submit comprehensive progress reports, promising that pending issues would be resolved swiftly and decisively.
