Telangana to allow Muslim employees to leave offices early during Ramzan

The Telangana government on Monday 17 February permitted Muslim employees to leave offices early during the fasting month of Ramzan.

Chief secretary Santhi Kumari had issued an order allowing Muslim employees to leave work for an hour during the holy month, which is to begin on 1 or 2 March depending on the sighting of the moon.

"Government hereby permit all Muslim government employees/ teachers/ contract/ out-sourcing/ boards/ corporations and public sector employees working in the state to leave their offices/schools at 4 p.m. during the holy month of "RAMZAN" i.e., from March 2 to 31 (both days inclusive) to offer necessary prayers, except when their presence is required due to exigencies of services during the above period," the government order said.

Meanwhile, the minorities welfare department is making elaborate arrangements at the historic Makkah Masjid and Shahi Masjid (royal mosque) for the month of Ramzan. As in the past, all facilities are being provided for worshippers at the mosques. Special arrangements are being made for taraweeh, the special prayers held every night during the month.

The department said that 2,250 kg of fine quality khajoor (dates) will be provided to Makkah Masjid, Charminar, Royal Mosque, Nampally, and Secretariat Mosque as per the requirement provided by the district minority welfare officer, Hyderabad.

Minorities welfare department special secretary Tafseer Iqubal and minorities welfare director Yasmeen Basha reviewed the arrangements.

Permission has been granted by the minorities welfare department to organise Jalsa Youm-ul-Quran every Friday at Makkah Masjid. In another development, the Telangana Waqf Board has issued funds to pay arrears of the monthly honorarium for imams and muezzins, releasing Rs 15.37 crore to pay arrears for two months to 10,700 imams and muezzins across the state.

The amount has been released keeping Ramzan in view. Imams and muezzins get a Rs 5,000 honorarium every month. They had not received the honorarium for the last four months. Following demands from various quarters, the waqf board has finally released the funds.