Hyderabad- The Telangana government has introduced special provisions for Muslim employees during the upcoming Ramzan period, allowing them to leave work an hour early to observe their religious practices. Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari issued an order extending this accommodation to all Muslim government employees, including teachers and contract workers, from March 2 to 31, barring emergency situations requiring their presence.

The state's Minorities Welfare Department is simultaneously preparing extensive arrangements at prominent religious sites, particularly the historic Makkah Masjid and Shahi Masjid. The department has allocated 2,250 kg of premium dates for distribution among major mosques, including those at Charminar, Nampally, and the Secretariat. Special arrangements are being made to accommodate the nightly Taraweeh prayers during the holy month.

Department officials, including Special Secretary Tafseer Iqubal and Director Yasmeen Basha, have been overseeing the preparations. The Makkah Masjid has received authorization to conduct weekly Jalsa Youm-ul-Quran gatherings every Friday throughout Ramzan.

In a related development, the Telangana Waqf Board has addressed the pending honorarium issue for religious officials by releasing Rs 15.37 crore. This funding will cover two months of overdue payments for 10,700 imams and muezzins across the state, who receive a monthly honorarium of Rs 5,000. The timing of this release was specifically planned to coincide with the approaching Ramzan period, though it still leaves two months of arrears unpaid from the total four-month backlog.