New Delhi (NVI): Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today announced that Waqf Boards will be established soon in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil, for the first time since Independence.
Naqvi made announcement after chairing the Central Waqf Council meeting, and said that Waqf Boards will be established in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil for the first time since Independence and the process of establishing the boards has been started.
It has become possible only after abolition of Article 370, the Minister said, adding that Waqf Boards will ensure proper utilisation of Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil for welfare of the society.
“The central government will provide adequate financial assistance to construct infrastructure for socio-economic and educational activities on Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil under “Pradhanmantri Jan VikasKarykram” (PMJVK),” Naqvi said in a statement.
He also informed that there are thousands of Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil and the process has been started to register these Waqf properties.
“Digitisation, Geo Tagging or GPS Mapping of these Waqf properties has also been initiated and the work will be completed soon,” Naqvi added.
During the meeting, while taking a serious note of bungling and encroachment of Waqf properties by Waqf Mafias in several states, the state governments have been asked to take strict action against such mafias, he said.
The Minister also disclosed that just like other parts of the country, the central government will construct schools, colleges, ITIs, polytechnics, girls hostels, hospitals, multi-purpose community hall “SadbhavMandap”, “Hunar Hub”, common service centres.
Also, employment oriented skill development centres and other basic infrastructure on Waqf land in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil all under “Pradhanmantri Jan VikasKarykram” (PMJVK).
These basic infrastructure will ensure quality education for the needy, especially girls and give employment opportunities to the youths.
In addition, Naqvi said that for the first time since Independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government is providing 100 per cent funding to develop schools, colleges, ITIs etc. in those backward areas across the country which had been deprived of these basic facilities.
The Minister further stated that while only 90 districts of the country had been identified for minority communities’ development earlier, the government has expanded development programmes for minorities in 308 districts, 870 blocks, 331 towns and thousands of the villages of the country.
Naqvi said that about 6,64,000 registered Waqf properties are there across the country and digitisation of all the state Waqf boards has been completed. “Geo Tagging or GPS Mapping of Waqf properties is also being done on a war footing,” he added.
-RJV
