Congress’ Minority Declaration promises caste census, Rs 4,000 cr welfare budget, jobs

Telangana: The Telangana Congress party on Thursday released their plans for the overall development of minority communities in the state titled Minority Declaration, in Hyderabad. The announcement is part of their election agenda if the Congress comes to power after winning the ensuing Telangana State Assembly elections.

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Revanth Reddy, Congress candidates Mohammed Ali Shabbir from Nizamabad Urban constituency, Mohammad Azharuddin from Jubilee Hills and Goshamahal candidate Sunitha Rao were present at the announcement.

Senior leaders such as Salman Khurshid and Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi from Uttar Pradesh, who is popular for his poetry, unveiled the declaration with their Telangana counterparts.

The highlights of the declaration include:

Financial Upliftment and Empowerment

1. Conduct a caste census within six months and ensure fair reservation for all Backward Classes, including minorities, in jobs, education and government welfare schemes.

2. Increase minorities' welfare budget to Rs 4,000 crores along with a dedicated sub-plan for minorities.

3. Provide Rs 1,000 crore per annum to facilitate subsidised loans for unemployed minority youth and women.

Commitment to Education and Employment Equity

1. Abdul Kalam Taufa-e-Taleem scheme to provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakhs to Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and other minority youth completing MPhil and PhD. Additionally, Rs 1 lakh upon completion of post-graduation, Rs 25,000 for graduation, Rs 15,000 for intermediate and Rs 10,000 for Class 10.

2. Establish Telangana Sikh Minority Finance Corporation and fill vacancies in minority institutions. Conduct special DSC to recruit Urdu medium teachers

Protection of Religious Rights and Culture

1. Monthly honorarium of Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 for priests from all religions including lmams, Muezzins, Khadims, Pastors and Granthis.

2. Amend the Telangana State Minorities Commission Act, 1998 to make it a permanent body and table its annual report in the state legislative to make suitable changes to policies for minorities' welfare.

3. Digitise land and property records of the Waqf Board. Reclaim and re-register the encroached properties of the Waqf Board.

4. Protect and allot land for Muslim and Christian graveyards

Infrastructure and Welfare

1. To provide a house site and Rs 5 lakhs for the construction of a house for all houseless minority families under the Indiramma Indlu Scheme.

2. To provide Rs 1,60,000 to newly-wed couples of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and other minorities.

Promotion of Inclusivity and Growth

1. Revitalise Setwin and skill development training and transform Quli Qutub Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA) to develop infrastructure in the Old City.

The announcement mostly went smoothly except when a commotion started as people rushed to the VIPs to take selfies with them, especially Revanth Reddy and Imran Pratapgarhi. It took a lot of time to control the crowd as those who had come from other districts were insistent on taking photos. Apart from the commotion, the crowd responded well. When Revanth Reddy called out to them and said, “Aadhi roti khageye, Congress ko hi jitayege!” people echoed it back to him.