Hyderabad: Shaik Abdullah Sohail raised concerns over Abdullah Sohail minority education funds, alleging that allocated budgets are not being effectively utilised by the Congress government.
He said the issue reflects a gap between announcements and implementation, particularly in schemes aimed at supporting minority students.
Abdullah Sohail minority education funds highlight low utilisation
Sohail stated that despite promises of a ₹4,000 crore minorities welfare budget and a dedicated sub-plan, actual spending has remained low.
He cited official figures for 2025–26 to support his claims. Under the Maintenance of Charges/Fees scheme, ₹120 crore was allocated and released, but only ₹1.20 crore was spent. Similarly, the Reimbursement of Tuition Fee scheme saw utilisation of ₹68.88 crore against a ₹300 crore allocation.
He further pointed out that the Pre-Matric scholarship scheme recorded zero expenditure, raising concerns about delays in student support.
Impact on education and training programmes
According to Sohail, academic and skill development initiatives have also been affected. Study circle coaching recorded minimal spending, while training and employment programmes showed limited utilisation.
He added that institutions such as the Urdu Academy also saw reduced fund usage, affecting their functioning and outreach.
Wider welfare gaps under scrutiny
The Abdullah Sohail minority education funds issue also extends to broader welfare schemes. He noted that schemes like Shaadi Mubarak and Rajiv Yuva Vikasam showed either partial or zero expenditure despite significant allocations.
He also cited welfare programmes under the Telangana State Minorities Finance Corporation, where utilisation remained extremely low.
Comparison with previous government
Drawing comparisons, Sohail said fund utilisation during the previous BRS government was significantly higher, exceeding 90% in earlier years.
However, he claimed utilisation dropped sharply under the current administration. He also alleged that a large portion of spending in 2023–24 occurred before the change in government.
Call for accountability
Sohail urged the government led by A. Revanth Reddy to explain the reasons behind unspent funds.
He emphasised that delays in scholarships, fee reimbursements, and training programmes directly impact minority students and youth.
Overall, he called for immediate corrective measures to ensure that welfare benefits reach the intended beneficiaries without delay.
