January 28, 2002

    The Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya, has called for streamlining the functioning of the Wakf Boards in the country in order to augment their income for extending their welfare activities especially the education of girls among the Muslims. He was addressing the 45^th meeting of the Central Wakf Council here today. Stressing the need for strengthening measures for protecting the Wakf properties, Dr. Jatiya said that the Wakf Boards should also take care that the income of the Wakfs is properly utilised and its benefits reach the community. Dr. Jatiya said that the measures may be taken to get the Wakf properties exempted from Rent Acts etc. Dr. Jatiya said that 11 states have implemented the Wakf Act, 1995 and urged the remaining states to implement it immediately.

    The Council approved scholarship to 800 students pursuing Technical/Professional degree courses at the rate of Rs.6,000 per annum to each student. It also approved the recommendation of the Wakf Development Committee for loan assistance of 3.5 crore rupees to 24 Development Projects in different parts of the country including Manipur in the North-East. The Council also approved the Budget of the Central Wakf Councill for the financial year 2002-2003.

    The Central Wakf Council gives loan assistance to the Mutawallis for constructing the commercially viable buildings on the urban Wakf properties in order to augment their income. Under the Scheme 111 commercial buildings have already been constructed on the Wakf land which include Shopping Complexes, Hostels, Hospitals, Cold Storages etc. Work on more than 50 such projects is in progress.