Hyderabad MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen supremo Asaduddin Owaisi has sought benefits under MP Dalit Bandhu Yojana for one per cent of Muslims living below the poverty line in Telangana, his home state.
Owaisi while speaking at a panel discussion on ‘Poverty in Telangana, poor among Muslims and various challenges’ emphasised the need to increase the net of the beneficiary scheme by the state government to include Muslims.
The Dalit Bandhu entitles each beneficiary family to Rs one Million. Owaisi, who represents Hyderabad in the parliament said that around 9000 Muslim families living below the poverty line can get benefits from this scheme as he cited data that nine per cent of Muslims live below the poverty line to back his argument for inclusion.
“The Sudhir Commission set up in 2016 to assess the social, economic and educational status of Muslims revealed that the community fares poorly on most human development indicators. Further research has shown that the situation has now only deteriorated. Thus, there is a need for government intervention in uplifting Muslims too,” Owaisi, who is known for his vocal stance on Muslim issues said.
”The scheme for Dalits is welcome. It must be extended to Muslims also as there is empirical data showing their downtrodden condition. We are going to put forward these points when the assembly discusses the Dalit Bandhu scheme during its ongoing session.”
Only half of the Muslim teenagers are in school or college and less than 20% of Muslims within the age group of 20-24 are studying. The Muslim community constitutes 14% of the total population but their representation in civil service is less than 3%. Unemployment rates are also high.
Owaisi argued that if the scheme was extended to Muslims it would lift a vast majority of the community from endemic poverty and backwardness.
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Rushda Fathima Khan is the Staff Reporter for The Cognate.
