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Azharuddin gets Minorities Welfare, Public Enterprises portfolio

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  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, November 4th 2025 at 7:10 GMT by Telangana Today

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Azharuddin Appointed to Minorities Welfare and Public Enterprises Portfolio in Telangana

In a recent reshuffle of the Telangana cabinet, the newly elected Government has appointed Azharuddin as the Minister for Minorities Welfare and Public Enterprises. The decision, announced by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) on Thursday, marks a strategic move to strengthen the state’s focus on minority communities while also enhancing the efficiency of its public‑sector enterprises.

A Brief Background on Azharuddin

Dr. Azharuddin, a senior member of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and a parliamentarian representing the Sangareddy constituency, has been a staple in state politics for the past decade. He first entered the cabinet in 2018 as the Minister for Minority Welfare and has been instrumental in launching several scholarship schemes, community infrastructure projects, and vocational training programs for Muslims and other minority groups. His track record of community outreach and his familiarity with the needs of the state's diverse population made him a natural fit for the expanded portfolio.

Azharuddin has also been praised for his pragmatic approach in the field of public enterprises. While serving as a board member on the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) and the Telangana State Civil Aviation Authority (TSCAA), he championed reforms that reduced operating losses and introduced a customer‑centric service model. His blend of social sensitivity and managerial acumen has earned him commendations from both the opposition and civil‑society organizations.

Why Minorities Welfare and Public Enterprises Are Tied Together

The decision to combine these two portfolios under a single minister is a deliberate policy choice. Telangana’s minority population—constituting approximately 23 % of the state’s total—has historically been underserved in terms of education, employment, and social welfare. At the same time, the state’s public‑sector enterprises have been under scrutiny for financial inefficiencies, governance lapses, and declining service quality.

By assigning Azharuddin to oversee both portfolios, the government aims to create a feedback loop where welfare programs can be delivered more efficiently through existing public‑sector infrastructure. For instance, the Minorities Scholarship Program can be administered through the Telangana State Schools Network, which is managed by the Public Enterprises Department. Likewise, infrastructure projects like building community centers can leverage the expertise of the Telangana State Public Works Department, which falls under the same ministerial umbrella.

Key Objectives for the New Portfolio

1. Expanding Scholarship and Education Initiatives

Azharuddin’s first speech at the cabinet meeting highlighted the goal of increasing the scholarship target for minority students by 15 % over the next three years. He pledged to:

• Introduce “Smart Class” Infrastructure in minority schools across the state, ensuring that students have access to digital learning tools.
• Partner with private IT firms to offer free or subsidized training for students, focusing on data analytics, AI, and software development—skills in high demand in Telangana’s rapidly growing tech ecosystem.
• Streamline the application process by digitizing forms and introducing a one‑stop portal for scholarship applications and updates.

2. Enhancing Public Enterprise Performance

The public‑sector wing of Azharuddin’s portfolio will focus on improving the financial health and service delivery of state-owned corporations such as TSRTC, TSCAA, Telangana State Housing Board, and the Telangana State Agricultural Development Corporation (TSADC). He plans to:

• Implement a performance‑based incentive system for key executives across public enterprises, tying bonuses to efficiency metrics like on‑time service, cost reduction, and customer satisfaction.
• Increase transparency by making quarterly financial statements publicly available on a dedicated portal, ensuring that citizens can track the performance of public enterprises.
• Leverage technology by adopting cloud‑based ERP systems across all enterprises to reduce duplication of efforts and improve data accuracy.

3. Community‑Centric Public Service Delivery

Recognizing that minorities often face bureaucratic hurdles, Azharuddin aims to:

• Introduce “Community Liaisons” within every district—a team of local officers who will be the primary point of contact for minority families seeking welfare benefits.
• Create a feedback mechanism via a mobile app where citizens can rate their experience with public enterprises and request assistance for welfare issues.
• Hold quarterly town‑hall meetings in minority‑dense areas, facilitating direct dialogue between the government and its constituents.

Responses from Stakeholders

Opposition Leader Y. Gopal Reddy welcomed the move, stating that “the merger of these portfolios is a step in the right direction, as it signals the government’s commitment to both social equity and economic efficiency.”
Civil‑society activist Rani K. Muralidhar added, “Minority welfare will thrive if it is underpinned by strong, transparent institutions. Azharuddin’s experience in both domains is a rare blend that can bring tangible change.”

Looking Ahead

The cabinet has also scheduled a *“Minority Welfare & Public Enterprises” policy review session in the next fiscal year, inviting stakeholders from academia, industry, and community groups to co‑design future initiatives. The goal is to ensure that policies are data‑driven, participatory, and aligned with Telangana’s broader development agenda.

Azharuddin’s appointment comes at a critical juncture. The state’s minority population is projected to grow by 3.5 % annually, while the public‑sector enterprises face increasing pressure to remain financially viable in a competitive environment. By aligning these two critical spheres, Telangana may set a precedent for how governments can simultaneously pursue social justice and economic resilience.

As the new minister takes the oath of office, expectations are high that his tenure will usher in a new era of inclusive growth, efficient public service delivery, and a stronger, more vibrant minority community within Telangana.