Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR: Former Minister for Hajj and Auqaf, Abdul Rehman Veeri, during last year’s budget session had made several announcements to safeguard the Wakf property and make its better use and generate more income for the department. However, none of around a dozen promises made were fulfilled so far even as almost one year has passed.
The then Minister had told the Assembly while replying to demand for grants of Hajj and Auqaf that Government will digitize Wakf records to ensure safety of its assets and transparency in the functioning of the department. He had also said that an exclusive website will also be launched for the purpose. However, so far neither the website was launched nor were records digitized which could have safeguarded its property as it faces threat from encroachments and its assets are already encroached upon.
Veeri had told the Assembly that to generate income and to optimally use Wakf land, the Wakf would construct residential flats at Eidgah Jammu and it was also considering to upgrade Block B of Haj House, Jammu to provide more facilities to the people. However, neither the flats were constructed at Eidgah Jammu and nor Block B of Hajj House was upgraded so far to provide facilities to the people.
The new initiatives which were being taken and which were promised by the then Minister include construction of Rs. 23 crore Shopping Complex at Residency Road, construction of new Jamia Masjid at Talab Khatikan, Jammu at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 crore, extension of Jamia Masjid at Shahadra Sharief at a cost of Rs. 92 lakh and construction of two Shopping Complex’s at Rajouri at a cost of Rs. 1.81 crore. Jamia Masjid construction at Talab Khatikan Jammu was already going on but there is no much headway since last year. Similarly the work for Rs 23 crore Shopping Complex at Residency Road here and 2 Shopping Complex’s at Rajouri at a cost of Rs. 1.81 crore has not begun yet.
Veeri had also said that Auqaf Jammu intends to impart para-medical training to the children of poor and down trodden families for which he had promised to set up an Institute of Para-Medics at Jammu. However, no such institute was set up for the poor and down trodden students.
The then Minister had promised construction of a Sarai at Jammu to cater to the demands of the poor beneficiaries who come from hilly and backward areas of the State for various assignments. However, no such Saria was constructed so far for these people.
Veeri had also announced that a Committee would be constituted to examine enhancement of honorarium to the widows, orphans and other needy, adding that Rs. 35 lakh have been provided as honorarium to various categories of beneficiaries during 2015-2016 financial year. He had said that Auqaf had also created a Corpus Fund of Rs. 10 lakh to help the poor patients suffering from life consuming diseases like Cancer, Kidney failure and heart ailments.
However, there was no enhancement of the honorarium to the widows, orphans and other needy persons. And no one suffering from diseases like cancer, kidney failure and heart ailments, was provided assistance from the Corpus Fund so far.
The then Minister’s announcement for exploring the possibilities for incorporating the provision in the J&K Act-2001 for construction of a Tribunal for Wakf property on the pattern of Central Government has not seen the light of the day yet.
Providing of grant to the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University is a yearly phenomenon and till last year Rs. 38 crore were provided to it.
Veeri who had promised retrieving the Wakf land from the people under illegal occupation at various places across the State and get proper rent from the land, buildings, which are under the occupation of various people and organization including Government establishments but so far nothing concrete has been done to retrieve the Wafk property from illegal occupation.
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