Andhra Pradesh Law and Minority Welfare Minister N. M. D. Farooq distributed college allotment certificates to 250 students selected under the Taalim-e-Hunar Talent Test in Vijayawada on Sunday.

Speaking at the programme, Mr. Farooq said the initiative marked an important step towards educational empowerment of minority communities. Implemented by the A.P. Waqf Board, the scheme will provide free residential education to 250 meritorious minority students at an estimated cost of nearly ₹6 crore.

Students who secured at least 450 marks in Class X were selected through a special entrance test and will be admitted to reputed institutions that offer coaching for IIT and medical entrance examinations.

Mr. Farooq said the scheme was intended to ensure that economically disadvantaged minority students, particularly girls, did not discontinue their education because of financial constraints. He commended the Waqf Board for funding the programme through its own resources and assured full government support for its implementation.

A.P. Waqf Board Chairman Sheikh Abdul Aziz said 250 students were selected from 6,605 candidates who appeared for the test out of around 7,400 applicants. He said residential education would provide a competitive academic environment for students who may not receive adequate support at home.

Although 33% reservation was earmarked for girls, they accounted for 41% of the selected candidates, which Mr. Aziz described as a notable achievement. The students will be enrolled at the Chaitanya Gosala campus in Vijayawada.

Mr. Aziz said the scheme was being implemented under the P4 (Public-Private-People Partnership) model in line with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision of ensuring that poverty does not become a barrier to education.

Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) said the programme would help minority students gain access to quality education and competitive coaching. He also suggested setting up skill development centres in Shadi Khanas to enhance employment opportunities for minority youth.

MLC Zakia Khanam, Minority Affairs Advisor Sharif Mohammad, MLAs Gadde Ramamohan and Mohammad Nazeer Ahmed, Urdu Academy Chairman Mohammad Farooq Shibli, Vijayawada DCP Sharina Begum and School Education Commissioner A. Tameem Ansaria also praised the scheme and urged students to make the best use of the opportunity.

The speakers underscored the role of education in the social and economic advancement of minority communities and expressed confidence that the beneficiaries would excel in their chosen fields. The Waqf Board said it plans to expand its educational initiatives by mobilising additional resources in the coming years.