Nasyam Mohammad Farook assumed charge as Minister of Law and Minority Welfare of Andhra Pradesh on Friday. He took charge as minister after interfaith prayers, especially Namaz, at 2pm in the chamber allotted to him (room no 212) in the 3rd block of the state secretariat. The minister said his first sign was on the Waqf Board files after examining them.
He said the skill development, education, health and infrastructure facilities should be provided to the minorities through central schemes like the Prime Minister's Jan Vikas Center (PMJVK). He would take a decision on these after discussing matters with the higher authorities. Promising that good facilities will be provided for Haj pilgrims, minister Farook said he will work with the aim of raising the living standards of the minorities.
The overseas education scheme will be named after former President APJ Abdul Kalam. The relevant file will be sent to the chief minister for approval. He recalled that, in the past, education abroad schemes bore the names of NTR and BR Ambedkar, but the previous government renamed these.
“Our governments had spent spent hundreds of crores for the welfare of minorities and implementation of quality education.” Farook said that the previous government had ignored 77 projects worth `643.54 crore sanctioned during 2014-19 under PMJVK.
As there has been no progress in the projects in the last five years, the Secretary to the Minority Welfare department, K Harshavardhan, was directed to instru.