K Rahman Khan gave the welcome address at the inauguration of National Waqf Development Corporation limited and highlighted the future welfare programmes
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh recently inaugurated National Waqf Development Corporation limited (NAWADCO), a new central public sector enterprise under Ministry of Minority Affairs. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, UPA and National Advisory Council, was the chief guest at the function.
This corporation proved an important institution for the development of Waqf properties for the community welfare particularly for Muslims in India.
The establishment of NAWADCO is a follow up of Sachchar Committee recommendation. India has the largest number of Waqf properties in the world.
There are more than 4.9 lakh registered Auqaf (waqf properties) and the current annual income from these properties is about `163 crore. Sachar committee has estimated that such properties, if properly developed, with a minimum return of 10 per cent, would be capable of generating an income of `12000 crore per annum.
NAWADCO will facilitate and mobilise financial resources for the development of Waqf properties for community development purposes in a joint venture with the state/union territory Waqf Boards and the Muthawallis. The Waqf boards and the Muthawallis did not have the financial resources to develop the properties leading to encroachments.
Government of India has recently enacted the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2013.This will make administration of Waqf properties transparent and will provide an enabling environment for development and utilisation of Waqf lands for welfare of minorities.
K Rahman Khan, Minister of Minority Affairs, gave the welcome address. Some of the highlights of his speech were as under:
>Today is a historic day and it is a realisation of my 40 year-old dream which will be remembered in the history of Auqaf management in India.
The recent amendments to the Waqf Act and the establishment of the NAWADCO will pave the way for professional management of Waqf properties in our country, to improve the conditions of
Auqaf in India and to save these invaluable properties from illegal encroachment, besides developing them as income yielding assets for the socio-economic development and educational empowerment of Indian Muslims.
>The Waqf means a dedication by any person of any movable or immovable property for any purpose recognised by the Muslim law, as pious, religious and charitable.
The property dedicated is called Waqf property, and is to retain the real asset with an implied ownership of the god and to devout its utilisation for the general benefit of mankind.
Auqaf assets are considered as a trust asset and the role of the trustee is to look after the assets and to ensure its perpetuity for the beneficiaries.
I believe that there is a virtual collapse of institutions of Auqaf in India mainly because of reasons like lack of legislative clarity, administrative inaction, lack of political will on the part of concerned authorities, indifferent and partisan attitude of management of the Auqaf and lack of honesty and integrity.
>It is a general perception of the community that if our Auqaf are managed properly, we don’t need any assistance from other sources. UPA leadership had taken a great step by appointing Justice Sachar Committee.
The Committee has concentrated on the plight of Auqaf and suggested a detailed remedial action. Today’s inauguration of NAWADCO is in compliance of those recommendations.