HYDERABAD, June 22: The DCO has said that funds for the 10th instalment of the food support programme under the Baitul Maal have been released to post offices concerned and payments will be to beneficiaries from June 25 in urban areas and July 1 in rural areas.

DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed was presiding over a meeting of the district food support steering committee at his camp office here on Tuesday.

He said that in addition to 24,000 registered beneficiaries, the government had also approved a new list of 5,261 deserving people.

He directed the managements of the Baitul Maal, Hyderabad, and the District Zakat Committee to computerize the list of beneficiaries to avoid duplication and misuse of funds.

The DCO said an additional computer with two computer operators would be provided to the Baitul Maal management to ensure transparent distribution of welfare funds.

Briefing the meeting, District Baitul Maal in-charge Najam Din Jamali said Rs9.7 million was in balance and 8,163 beneficiaries were yet to be registered to complete the available quota of beneficiaries with the Baitul Maal.

He said 6,000 applications had been received from beneficiaries and the remaining beneficiaries would be registered by July 1.

He said Rs1,200 was being given to each registered beneficiary under the district food support Programme and added that precautionary measures were being taken to ensure registration of needy people and transparent payment to them.

M. Parkash, a member of the food support steering committee representing minorities, sought a quota of the Baitul Maal fund for the welfare of minorities. This would be a step towards poverty alleviation in his community, he added.

Endorsing the demand of Mr Parkash, the DCO asked him to communicate with his community and prepare a separate list of needy people with the help of community representatives.

District Zakat Committee chairman Prof Idrees Qaimkhani also attended the meeting.