Government to provide 100% funding to develop schools, hospitals on waqf properties: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

All waqf properties across India will be geo-tagged and digitised and government will provide 100 per cent funding to develop educational institutions and hospitals on such properties for welfare of society, Union minster Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on June 12.

Naqvi, while chairing 80th meeting of Central Waqf Council in Delhi, said re are around 5.77 lakh registered waqf properties across country and ir geo-tagging and digitalisation will ensure transparency and safety of records.

Centre has decided to start a programme on a war footing to utilise waqf properties across country for educational empowerment and employment-oriented skill development of needy, especially ecomically backward girls in those areas which were deprived of se facilities since Independence, mirity affairs minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has decided to provide 100 per cent funding to develop schools, colleges, ITIs, polytechnics, hospitals, multi-purpose community halls "Sadbhav Mandap" on waqf land under Pradhanmantri Jan Vikas Karykram (PMJVK), he said.

A programme on war footing has been launched for 100 per cent geo-tagging and digitalisation of waqf properties across country to ensure se properties can be utilised for welfare of society, Naqvi said.

Naqvi said that while only 90 districts of country had been identified for mirity communities' development during earlier government, Modi government has expanded development programmes for mirities in 308 districts of country.

A report of a five-member committee, constituted to review waqf properties lease rule, headed by Justice (Retd) Zakiullah Khan, has been submitted, Naqvi told reporters.

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recommendations of committee will ensure that waqf rules are made easy and effective for better utilisation of waqf properties and to free se properties, several of which are entangled in disputes for several decades, from disputes, he said.

Central government is taking necessary action on recommendations of committee.

Central Waqf Council is providing financial help to state waqf boards for digitalisation of waqf records so that state waqf boards can complete digitalisation work within decided time frame.

"GIS/GPS mapping of waqf properties has been initiated with help of IIT Roorki and Aligarh Muslim University. Central Waqf Council has provided video conferencing facilities to 20 state waqf boards and it would be provided in remaining state waqf boards by end of this year," he said.

Naqvi's anuncement of geo-tagging of waqf properties comes a day after he spelt out government's plan to empower mirities.

Several scholarships such as pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means will be provided to 5 crore students from mirity communities, including 50 per cent girls, over next five years, he had said on Tuesday.

Naqvi had also said girls from mirity communities who have dropped out of school will be linked to education and employment through "bridge courses" from reputed educational institutions of country.

Madrassa teachers across country will be trained by various institutions in mainstream subjects such as Hindi, English, Maths, Science and Computer so that y can impart mainstream education to madrassa students, he said.

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