The Cabinet, which met here today, has decided in principle to grant coparsenary right to women in the Hindu undivided family.

To facilitate implementation of the new schemes for minorities, it was decided to provide an additional Rs 5 crore over and above the Rs 32 crore earmarked in the Budget.

The decisions taken in respect of minorities are: declaration of Urdu as second official language in Mahboobnagar, Adilabad, Krishna and Chittoor districts in addition to the existing eight districts, filling up of 802 vacant Urdu teacher posts without any cut-off marks, sanction of 200 primary schools to be run by Government, three B.Ed colleges and onemedical college in private sector and release of funds for construction of new masjids and renovation of existing ones.

The decisions taken in respect of women relate to: 50 per cent of the small savings agents to be picked up from among women, sanction of new houses under the weaker section housing programme and allotment of new ration cards in the name of women and entrusting them with 50 per cent of all the economic support schemes implemented by various corporations.

Briefing newsmen, Finance Minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju said that a new legislation would be brought in to provide coparsenary right to women. This right (hitherto enjoyed only by males from the time of birth) would entitle women to have equal rights along with men in the undivided family in respect of property, as well as other matters.

The minorities welfare policy titled `Roshni' envisages appointment of district minority welfare officers in the four districts where Urdu has been declared as second official language. One post ofUrdu translator would be sanctioned to each of the 12 districts where Urdu would be the second official language.

The Finance Minister said that Rs 1 crore has been earmarked to provide pre-matric scholarships to minority students from 7th to 10th standard. The three new private B.Ed colleges would be located in Medak, Guntur and Nellore districts, while the medical college would come up in Cuddapah district.

A study circle would be established in Hyderabad exclusively to coach minority students appearing for competitive examinations. All vacant posts of Unani doctors would be filled by relaxing the rule of reservation, as eligible candidates belonging to SC and ST categories were not available.

The collectors would be directed to immediately identify land and commence work on the construction of nearly 300 shadikhanas which were sanctioned during the previous and current financial year. The management of shadikhanas would be entrusted to a committee comprising elders from the minoritycommunity, a representative of the Urdu academy and the local MRO.

The Finance Minister said that the maximum sanction for construction of a new masjid or renovation of an existing one has been enhanced from Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000.

Nearly 40 shopping complexes would be constructed in all district headquarters and some important towns to create self-employment opportunities to minorities. Each district would be given Rs 50 lakh for this purpose.

Gajapati Raju said that Rs 10 crore would be provided to the minorities finance corporation to provide direct loans (without involving banks) to minorities for self-employment ventures. Fifty per cent of the beneficiaries would be women.