MLC and Siasat Urdu Daily Chief Editor Ameer Ali Khan speaks on the challenges faced by Muslim minorities and the need for a well-rounded strategy for their upliftment in an exclusive interview with freelance journalist M.D. Shafiuz Zama.
Q: As an MLC representing the Muslim minority community, what measures do you plan to take for the community’s development?
A: It is estimated that around 50 lakh Muslims reside in our state (Telangana), with a significant portion living below the poverty line. They are, in fact, facing harsher conditions than SC/ST communities. To address their comprehensive development, a dedicated and well-planned strategy is necessary. We will take actions aligned with this plan.
Q: What key elements will your plan prioritise?
A: Two major factors contribute to the backwardness of the community: education and employment. We will focus on encouraging education within the Muslim minority and creating job and employment opportunities.
Q: Could you elaborate further?
A: In this competitive world, education is crucial for advancement, and job opportunities are essential for growth. The literacy rate among Muslims is low, which in turn leads to fewer employment opportunities. Therefore, our plan includes various measures to increase literacy rates among Muslims and provide job opportunities to the educated yet unemployed Muslim youth.
Q: What are your plans regarding the protection of Waqf properties, resolving encroachment issues, and reclaiming these lands?
A: We need a clear approach concerning Waqf properties. First, a comprehensive study of Waqf properties across different districts will be conducted. Following that, we will take steps not only to resolve cases and reclaim encroached properties but also to strategize on their effective utilization.
Q: Despite the implementation of 4% reservations for Muslims in Telangana, why is there still high unemployment and backwardness within the community?
A: The reasons I mentioned earlier contribute to this situation. Moreover, out of every 1 lakh people, only 4,000 benefit from reservations, leaving 96,000 without this advantage. The larger number of people left out exacerbates the poverty and backwardness of the Muslim community compared to SCs/STs. This is a significant factor behind the social, economic, and political backwardness of Muslims.
Q: What immediate actions do you propose for economic self-reliance and empowerment of the Muslim minority?
A: Economic self-reliance and comprehensive empowerment require support in multiple areas – education, employment, health, and the development of living environments. Personal development alone won’t suffice; we need collective social progress. Ensuring community participation in every initiative is crucial.
Q: Implementing this long-term plan would require time. Do you think your tenure as an MLC will be sufficient for this?
A: Yes, I believe the six-year tenure as an MLC will provide adequate time to implement a long-term plan.
Q: Are you considering providing loans to the Muslim minority through corporations for immediate benefits?
A: Absolutely. The Congress party government is committed to supporting the Muslim minority, and the government will make a decision regarding the disbursement of loans to the community.
Q: Do you have any plans for the development of Muslim minority women?
A: Yes, I believe in providing special subsidized loans to women. When a woman progresses, the entire family benefits.
Q: As an MLC, you have spoken about serving the community at a government level. Do you also plan to engage in any personal social services?
A: Even before becoming an MLC, I have been serving as the Chief Editor of Siasat Urdu Daily and have initiated various social service programs aimed at the development of the Muslim minority. My father, the late Zahed Ali Khan, was also deeply involved in such charitable activities.
Q: Thank you for sharing your insights with clarity and vision. Finally, Waqf lands amount to thousands of acres – do you plan to leave them as they are, or do you have any development plans?
A: That’s a good question. We have a clear vision to transform Waqf lands into income-generating resources. Through this, we can significantly contribute to the comprehensive development of the Muslim minority.
In this interview, MLC and Siasat Urdu Daily Chief Editor Ameer Ali Khan emphasizes the urgent need for a well-rounded strategy to uplift the Muslim minority community in Telangana, with a focus on education, employment, and the effective utilization of Waqf properties.
[The interview, conducted by freelance journalist M.D. ShafiUz Zama, was published in the leading Telugu newspaper Surya. It has been translated into English by Ayesha Sultana with the journalist’s permission.]