Waqf boards to be set up soon in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh: centre

Waqf boards will soon be set up in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil. A process has also been started regarding this, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi gave said on Friday.

After the Central Waqf Council meeting, Naqvi said that after the abolition of Article 370, Waqf properties will be ensured by the Waqf Boards, which are formed for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil. Also, for the use of these properties for socio-economic-educational activities, a lot of help will be provided under 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Program'.

He said that under the Prime Minister's Public Development Program, the Central Government on Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir, Leh-Kargil of schools, colleges, ITIs, girls hostels, residential schools, skill development centers, multi-purpose community centers, hospitals, vocational centers etc. Construction will be done on a large scale.

Naqvi said that for the first time since independence, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided 100 per cent funds under the Prime Minister's Public Development Program for the construction of schools, colleges, hospitals, community buildings etc. on Waqf properties across the country.

He said that the government has expanded the development plans for minorities to just 90 districts of the country under the "Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Program" in 308 districts, 870 blocks, 331 cities, thousands of villages.

Naqvi said that there are about 6 lakh 64 thousand registered Waqf properties across the country. 100 per cent digitization work of all 32 State Waqf Boards has been completed. 32 State Waqf Boards have been provided with the facility of videoconferencing.

Naqvi said that there are thousands of Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil. The process of registration of these properties is going on. The work of digitization and geo tagging / GPS mapping has also been started.

In a meeting of the Central Waqf Council, in several states, taking a serious stand on the manipulation and occupation of the Waqf properties in several states, the state governments have been asked to ensure the safety and good use of the Waqf properties by taking action against such Waqf Mafias. The Central Waqf Council team will visit the respective states.