Rich Taking Scholarships Meant for the Poor in Telangana: Akbaruddin Owaisi
Hyderabad, 24 March – (www.deccanlive.com): AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi has raised concerns over wealthy individuals benefiting from overseas scholarships and other financial aid meant for SCs, STs, BCs, EBCs, and minorities. He alleged that many rich people, owning big houses and vehicles, were wrongfully receiving scholarships, depriving the poor of their rightful benefits.
Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, 24 March, during discussions on welfare grants, Owaisi emphasized that government aid should reach the most deserving people. He stressed the need to correct past mistakes and ensure that scholarships are granted only to those in genuine need.
Scholarship Reforms Suggested
Owaisi proposed that overseas scholarships worth ₹20 lakh should only be given to students who would return to India after completing their education. He also suggested setting up a repayment system, where beneficiaries could pay back the scholarship amount after a certain period.
Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu supported Owaisi’s concerns, acknowledging that rich individuals misusing welfare schemes is a serious issue. He urged all political parties to work together to fix the problem and ensure that aid reaches the poorest of the poor.
Demand for Minority & BC Sub-Plans
Owaisi demanded that the state government implement a sub-plan for minorities and backward classes (BCs), a long-standing demand of AIMIM. He pointed out that Andhra Pradesh has already enacted these sub-plans and reminded the Congress government that it was part of their election manifesto promises.
Funds Not Being Utilized Properly
Referring to financial records from 2023-24 and 2024-25, Owaisi claimed that funds allocated for welfare programs were either not being released or not being utilized properly. He mentioned issues in departments like tribal welfare, SC corporation, and BC and minority welfare corporations.
Need for More Employees & Educational Institutions
Owaisi urged the government to increase the workforce in the minorities’ welfare department, noting that only 238 employees were working in the entire department.
He also highlighted that ₹160 crore had been released by the central government for constructing minority welfare residential schools, but the state government had not yet allocated its share of ₹60 crore. He stressed that if this amount is released, 30 minority residential schools could be completed.
Additionally, he proposed setting up minority study circles in districts with a large minority population, such as Karimnagar, Nalgonda, and Khammam.
Owaisi’s speech has once again sparked discussions on fair distribution of welfare benefits and the need for transparency in government schemes.
