Hyderabad: Advisor to the Telangana Government for SC, ST, OBC, and Minorities, Mohammed Ali Shabbir, on Thursday conducted a review of minority welfare schemes and called for timely implementation and full utilisation of sanctioned funds.
The meeting took place at his chambers in the Dr B R Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat. It included newly appointed Principal Secretary for Minorities Welfare B. Shafiullah and TMREIS President Faheem Qureshi.
Officials were directed to address fund release delays, improve inter-departmental coordination, and ensure schemes reached beneficiaries without procedural hurdles. Shabbir Ali asked for urgent follow-up with the Centre to secure additional support under Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
The Telangana Minority Residential Educational Institutions Society (TMREIS) was a key focus. Shabbir Ali said all available seats must be filled and urged awareness campaigns to boost admissions. He said the schools should not operate below capacity given their role in providing education to disadvantaged minority students.
The review found only 26 per cent of TMREIS schools function out of government buildings. Most are in rented or leased spaces. Shabbir Ali instructed officials to complete construction of permanent facilities in phases over the next two to three years and said the state would provide full support.
He also reviewed the functioning of other minority welfare institutions and asked Shafiullah to submit a performance report on all related bodies.
The Congress government has raised the 2025–26 allocation for minority welfare to Rs 3,591 crore, up from Rs 3,003 crore last year. The funds cover scholarships, subsidised loans under Rajiv Yuva Vikasam, skill development, and overseas education aid. Shabbir Ali warned that underutilisation must not recur and stressed that departments must exhaust their budgets to ensure impact.
