KCR Stresses On Education For SC/STs Development

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao claimed that Minorities were subjected to discrimination and neglect back when the two State were still united, and added that since the formation of Telangana, the State government had been making sincere efforts for their welfare.

Making a statement on minorities' welfare in the winter session of the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said that SC/STs and other backward communities were subjected to socio-political and economic backwardness, and oppression over the years. This had resulted in the minority sections feeling insecure, a lack of faith, and anxiety. But after the formation of the Telangana State, sincere efforts were made to remove insecurity among the minorities, instill confidence amongst them, and protect their identity, he claimed.

The extent of neglect the minorities had faced in united AP could be gauged from the fact sheets of the 20th annual State Budget allocations, the Chief Minister said and pointed out that in 1995-96, only Rs. 1.2 crores were allocated for minorities.

The Chief Minister said that a comprehensive plan had been prepared by the TRS government for the welfare and development of minorities, who constituted 14.24% of the population.

"For the first time in the annals of history, Rs. 1,030 crores has been allocated in the first State Budget for the welfare and development of the minorities. Later, we hiked the allocations to Rs. 1,204 crores in the same year" he said.

Backwardness among minorities could be eradicated only through education, he said. But majority of the members of minority communities were dependent on petty jobs and trades, hence they were unable to get better education for their children, he noted.

The State government also said that it would set up residential schools in the State exclusively for minorities, at a cost of Rs. 8,000 crores. As per reports, during the 2016-17 academic year, around 71 minority residential schools were started and another 129 schools will be started in the next academic year.

Realising that there were a large percentage of girls dropping out of schools early on, the State government constructed 100 residential School for them, KCR claimed. About 1.28 lakh students (both girls and Boys) would get education with international standards and in English Medium, he said.

"These revolutionary measures for the minorities will usher in a bright future for these youngsters," KCR said.

The CM also elaborated several other measures being taken for people of minority communities studying abroad or pursuing further studies in India.