HYDERABAD: Congress MLC Amer Ali Khan has welcomed the Telangana government’s decision to allocate Rs 3,591 crore for the Minority Welfare Department in the 2025-26 budget, presented by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu in the Assembly on Wednesday. He said the budget reflects the Congress government’s commitment to ensuring the security, welfare, and socio-economic empowerment of minorities in the state.
Amer Ali Khan hailed the Telangana government for making a historic allocation of Rs 840 crore for self-employment schemes for minorities in the 2025-26 budget. He stated that no government in India has ever allocated such a massive amount for the self-employment and economic upliftment of minorities. He described it as an unprecedented step that would empower thousands of unemployed youth from minority communities and help them achieve financial independence.
The Congress MLC lauded the state government’s initiative under the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam Scheme, which aims to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 4 lakh to every eligible unemployed individual from SC, ST, BC, and minority communities. He said this initiative would be a game-changer in job creation, not just by offering employment but by fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs. He emphasized that many talented individuals from minority communities struggle due to financial constraints and lack of opportunities, and this scheme would help them establish their own businesses, thereby creating jobs for others as well.
Amer Ali Khan noted that this scheme aligns with the vision of economic empowerment and social upliftment, which has been a long-pending demand of minority leaders and community representatives. He expressed confidence that if implemented efficiently, this initiative could set a national precedent for inclusive economic development. He urged the government to ensure a transparent and hassle-free process in distributing funds so that genuine beneficiaries do not face bureaucratic hurdles in accessing financial assistance.
The Congress MLC also welcomed the government’s focus on education, particularly the decision to integrate Minority Residential Schools into the Young India Residential Schools initiative. He said this move would provide high-quality education to minority students and place them on an equal footing with students from other communities. He stressed that education is the most powerful tool for empowerment, and such steps would go a long way in ensuring that students from underprivileged backgrounds get access to modern learning facilities, competitive coaching, and career-building opportunities.
He also appreciated the government’s commitment to the Hajj pilgrimage, pointing out that the 2024 Hajj saw a record 11,446 devotees from Telangana, the highest ever in the state’s history. He said the government’s continued support for Hajj pilgrimage expenses and arrangements reflects its respect for religious and cultural diversity. He further urged that Hajj subsidy and assistance programs be made more inclusive and efficient, ensuring that economically weaker pilgrims receive adequate financial and logistical support.
While praising the government’s overall budget allocation of Rs 3,591 crore for the Minority Welfare Department, Amer Ali Khan urged the government to focus on timely implementation, stating that large budgetary allocations alone would not bring change unless they are effectively executed at the grassroots level. He pointed out that in the past, many scholarships and self-employment grants were delayed due to procedural inefficiencies, and such obstacles must be removed to ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive their rightful support without delays.
Amer Ali Khan said that the Congress government, under the leadership of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, has demonstrated its resolve to uplift minorities, and he expressed confidence that these measures would bring about significant social and economic progress. He assured that he would continue to monitor the progress of these schemes and raise any concerns to ensure that every rupee allocated for minority welfare is utilized effectively.
He said that Telangana has set a new benchmark in minority welfare and economic empowerment, and he hopes that other states across India will take inspiration from this model and adopt similar initiatives to uplift minority communities. He called on all stakeholders, including community leaders, civil society organizations, and government officials, to work together to ensure that these funds are utilized for their intended purpose and that minorities in Telangana experience real and lasting progress.
