Rs 23,175 Cr worth benefits given to minorities in AP: CM Jagan

Vijayawada: Reiterating his commitment for the welfare of minorities, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that his government has spent Rs 23,175 crore for minority welfare through DBT and non-DBT schemes out of the Rs 2,40,000 crore incurred on various welfare schemes in the last 53 months.

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Moulana Abul Kalam Azad, which is also observed as National Education day and Minorities’ Welfare Day, the Chief Minister addressing a gathering here on Saturday said that his father Dr YS Rajaskehara Reddy worked for the welfare of Muslims by introducing reservations for them for the first time.

“I have taken the cause forward and the government is working for their social, economic, educational and political empowerment.”

“Ours is the only government which has issued orders for protecting the properties of Wakf Board and Churches, which has been paying monthly honorarium of Rs. 10,000 each to imams and Rs 5,000 each to mouzams and pastors and is implementing sub-plan for minorities,” he said, adding that Government has also introduced Urdu as second language in schools besides arranging Haj Yatra from Vijayawada.

Reddy was felicitated by the minority leaders after he gave away the Life Time Achievement and other Awards for 2023 for Muslim scholars.

While Dr SA Sattar Saheb (Kadapa district) was presented the Moulana Azad National award, Baba Frakruddin (Annamayya district) and Dr Patan Karimulla (Chittoor district) received the Dr Abdul Haq award.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Mohammad Azmat Ali (Kurnool district), Patan Mohammad Khan (Chittoor district), Shaik Abdul Gaffar (Kurnool district), Syed Shafi Ahamad Quadri (Tirupati district) and Mohammad Gouse Arif (Kadapa district).

Deputy Chief Minister (Minority Welfare) SB Amzath Basha and other minority leaders attended the programme.