New controversy erupts over gurukula funding in T’gana

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced on Monday that ₹60 crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund would be released to meet the urgent needs of BC, SC, ST, and minority welfare hostels across the state. The announcement was made through an official statement from the Chief Minister’s office.

However, the release of funds for gurukulas has sparked a political controversy. Former minister Harish Rao criticized the government on X (formerly Twitter), saying that despite promises of a “green channel” for gurukula funding, these commitments have yet to materialize.

Harish Rao pointed out that the ₹60 crore allocation for 1,024 gurukulas is insufficient. With over six lakh students from SC, ST, BC, and minority communities enrolled in these institutions, at least ₹100 crore is needed. He also highlighted that the government had previously announced a ₹12,000 crore “Young India Integrated Gurukula” scheme, which has so far remained only on paper. Allegations have also surfaced that funds were withheld due to commission-related concerns.

Currently, many gurukulas are struggling to pay staff salaries, cover vehicle repairs, and meet other urgent expenses. Contractors’ bills, hostel rent, mess charges, and stitching or cosmetic work payments have reportedly been pending for six months. Temporary staff have also not received salaries for months, leading to protests. Recently, students at Chegunta Gurukula in Medak district demanded the appointment of a mathematics teacher, while in several other regions, students protested over poor-quality food, chanting slogans like “We don’t want rotten food.”

Opposition leaders have accused the government of empty promises, saying its actions are limited to photo opportunities and publicity. Harish Rao demanded that the pending bills, salaries, and mess charges be cleared immediately and that funds be released to address problems that have persisted for nearly 22 months.