Minority welfare departments are in for streamlining. The newly-formed Commissionerate, under which they will function now, plans to galvanise the departments for improved performance.
Visitors to these departments are now at sea with poor sense of accountability. All that will be a thing of the past soon. A help desk is in the offing where people can register their grievances. What’s more they will be informed through SMS the action taken on their complaints.
Multi-sectoral development
These are some of the refreshing changes proposed by M.A. Waheed, the first commissioner, Commissionerate of Minorities Welfare. He is also exploring the possibilities of getting more funds and schemes for the State. He plans to liaise with the Centre in implementation of the multi-sectoral development scheme which aims at improvement of basic amenities and infrastructure in the minority concentrated districts.
Right now the districts of Kadapa, Kurnool, Medak and Nizamabad have been chosen for implementation of this scheme. Efforts are on to get the scheme for other densely populated minority districts in the State.
The establishment of the Commissionerate, a long felt need, is seen as an affirmative action by the government for uplift of the minorities. Though such bodies already exist for SCs, BCs and tribal people, it is for the first time a separate commissionerate is set up for minorities in the State.
Hike in budget needed
This is expected to help in procurement of a larger budget for the minority welfare. Last year a budget of Rs. 489 crore was sanctioned for the minority welfare departments. This time round a much higher allocation is expected.
Mr. Waheed, who is also the managing director of APSMFC, has sought Rs. 1,200 crore budget for the year 2013-14 for the Corporation as against Rs. 418 crore last year.
All establishment matters of various minority departments along with some other subjects are proposed to be transferred to the Commissionerate, Mr. Waheed said.
The Commissionerate was handed over its new office premises on Tilak Road. However, pending renovation of the office and sanction of 27 staff personnel at the headquarters and 41 at the district level, Mr. Waheed has started functioning.
