Waqf Board to open 3 schools in state

Tribune News Service

Ambala, September 13

The Haryana Waqf Board has generated a revenue of Rs 18.69 crore during 2016-17, which is Rs 4.92 crore higher than Rs 13.76 crore during 2015-16. It has decided to establish three schools up to Class XII in the state.

Punhana Raheesha Khan, chairman of the Haryana Waqf Board and an MLA, stated this here today while addressing mediapersons after holding the annual general meeting of the board.

Khan said, “The board receives no grant from the state government and despite adverse conditions, it has generated higher revenue. The Haryana Waqf Board had a revenue of only Rs 4.96 crore during 2003-04 when it was formed. The board has been making efforts to promote quality education among Muslim children in Haryana. It has been decided to establish three schools (one each in Yamunangar, Palwal and Mewat) up to Class XII. The board is running two schools and two colleges at present”.

“The board has spent over Rs 18.15 crore on various schemes for the benefit of the community. It has been decided that some new initiatives will be taken this year,” he said.

Hanif Qureshi, IPS officer, who is also the CEO of the board, presented the annual report of the board.

Qureshi said, “The board has decided to increase the revenue by over 20 per cent. Spreading education among Muslims has been the prime objective of the board. To achieve this target, it has decided to open three more schools. During the last financial year, Rs 2.03 crore was spent on educational activities. The board has decided to nearly double the education budget to over Rs 4 crore.”

He said, “It is a matter of concern that not much is being spent on health care facilities. Just a few lakhs of rupees are being spent. The board will increase the budget for health care. We have been facing some issues due to the Waqf Amendment Act, 2013. If the Act is amended, the board will manage to generate more revenue”.

The CEO said since 2003, 846 encroached upon Waqf properties had been recovered through courts or by way of compromise. Besides, 312 properties had been traced over the last five years, he added.

Board seeks changes to Waqf Amendment Act 

The Haryana Waqf Board has requested the Central and state governments to make changes in the Waqf Amendment Act, 2013, so that the board could function smoothly. According to information, there are nearly 23,000 tenants of Waqf properties and a large number of tenants had in the past protested against the issue of fresh bidding. Imteyaz Khizar, administrative officer of the board, says, “The board has been facing some issues in implementing the Waqf Amendment Act. There are some parts in the Act which suggest that no Waqf property can be leased out without bidding and not many tenants are willing to participate in the bidding process. While some tenants have agreed to participate in bidding, a large number of them are not happy. The tenants have been occupying these properties for many years. We gave them land and they constructed buildings. It is not possible to auction a property without having its possession,” he adds.

‘Educating Muslims prime objective’

"Spreading education among Muslims is the prime objective of the board. To achieve this target, it has decided to open three more schools. During the last financial year, Rs 2.03 crore was spent on educational activities. The board has decided to nearly double the education budget to over Rs 4 crore." Hanif Qureshi, IPS officer and CEO of Haryana Waqf Board