Waqf land to be developed: Centre

SRIGAR, Oct 12: Union Minister for Minority Affairs jma Heptullah on Monday said the government was planning to develop waqf land across the country.

Addressing a high-level meeting here to discuss the implementation of minority welfare schemes of the ministry in the states and union territories of northern India, she said, “The government is working out the modalities of a private partnership model for the same.”

The minister also gave an assurance that encroached waqf lands will be recovered at the earliest.

Representatives from seven states and union territories attended the meeting held at the Sher-I-Kashmir Intertiol Convention Centre here. They were from Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Harya, Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Talking about the welfare schemes launched in various parts of the country, Heptullah said her ministry has started imparting region-specific skill training to members of the minority communities so that their prospects of earning a decent livelihood are increased.

“The ministry has started skill development and training programmes for the students of madrassas in addition to religious education,” the minister said, adding that “it will help the students to cope better with the challenging requirements of the present day job markets”.

Waqf is a permanent dedication of movable or immovable properties for religious, pious or charitable purposes as recognized by Muslim Law, given by philanthropists. (IANS)