HYDERABAD: As many as 120 new residential schools will be set up in the next two years, said AK Khan, the recently appointed Minority Affairs advisor. Khan was speaking at a press interaction with the Telangana Union of Working Journalist on Saturday.
Giving a sneak peak into the upcoming Telangana budget in June, Khan said, “The schools will be set up with good hostels. The pre-elementary and elementary teachers will be paid Rs 36,000 per month, much higher than what is being paid elsewhere.”
There will be a need of 38,000 school children to fill the classes in these new schools. The state government is trying to empower minorities by getting them to schools, he added. The state government is also mulling building 200 infrastructure projects with an estimated budget of Rs 25 crore for each building, said Khan.
“The state will also provide grants of `20 lakh for students from minority communities who get to study abroad. Of course, once the grant is provided their academic performance will be monitored,” he added.
The state government also plans to help small businesses and entrepreneurs with `150 crore allocated for them in the budget. “We are aware that the previous budget aimed to serve this purpose was not spent adequately. Now, the state government is working on it,” said Khan.
State also has plans to launch a financial support scheme, T-prime, to help SC/STs set up their own businesses and provide them with financial assistance.
“We are also planning Model Islamic Centre with a budget of `20 to 25 crore. Apart from having a mosque, the centre will have a gym, a convention centre, playing area for children that is in tune with their religious heritage. The project will be built in Hi-tech city on a priority basis,” he added.