Hyderabad: Minority welfare spending under the Congress government came under attack after BRS leader Shaik Abdullah Sohail alleged poor utilisation and failure to meet key promises.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Sohail said the Congress had promised an annual allocation of Rs. 4,000 crore for minority welfare when it came to power in December 2023. However, he noted that allocations fell short, with Rs. 3,591 crore in 2025-26 and Rs. 3,769 crore proposed for 2026-27.
He argued that even these figures overstated actual support. According to him, parts of the allocation were linked to broader schemes such as Rajiv Yuva Vikasam, which covered multiple communities. Therefore, funds exclusively meant for minorities were significantly lower.
Sohail also questioned implementation. He said that although Rs. 1,000 crore was earmarked last year under Rajiv Yuva Vikasam for minorities, no loans were provided to unemployed youth. He criticised Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka for highlighting distribution figures without disclosing expenditure.
Citing official data, Sohail pointed to low utilisation levels. In 2024-25, the government spent only Rs. 793.79 crore against a revised estimate of Rs. 2,150.78 crore. This reflected a utilisation rate of 37% and a shortfall of over Rs. 1,357 crore.
He added that while allocations increased over time, actual spending declined. Expenditure stood at Rs. 1,269.98 crore in 2023-24, even as later budgets projected higher figures.
Minority welfare spending utilisation and allocation gaps
Sohail said delays in scholarship disbursal had affected students. He noted that funds for pre-matric, post-matric and overseas scholarships did not reach beneficiaries on time. In addition, the tuition fee reimbursement allocation dropped from Rs. 300 crore in 2025-26 to Rs. 100 crore in 2026-27.
He also raised concerns about institutional funding. The Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society received Rs. 723.72 crore for establishment costs and Rs. 625 crore for schemes in 2026-27. However, he alleged that infrastructure and hostel facilities lagged behind allocations.
Further, Sohail criticised stagnant and limited funding in key areas. He said the overseas scholarship scheme remained at Rs. 130 crore, while only Rs. 4 crore was allocated for study circles despite high demand.
The BRS leader also accused the government of failing to implement promises from its Minority Declaration. He said there was no clarity on schemes such as Abdul Kalam Taufa-e-Taleem, enhanced honorarium for Imams and Muezzins, or increased Shaadi Mubarak assistance.
He alleged that lack of regular reviews had led to weak monitoring and delays. As a result, he described current minority welfare spending as among the lowest in recent years.
Sohail urged the government to ensure full utilisation of funds and meet its Rs. 4,000 crore commitment. He called for transparency, timely scholarship payments and dedicated allocations for minority-specific schemes.
He warned that continued underutilisation could worsen socio-economic conditions among minority communities. He said the government must ensure that allocated funds reach intended beneficiaries.
