Srinagar, September 02 (Scoop News) -Chairing a meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Waqf Board here today, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who is also the Chairman of Waqf Board, directed for enhancing the salaries of Waqf employees before Eid. He said the formalities in this regard should be finalized in the next meeting scheduled on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister while giving these directions also called upon the Waqf employees to render their service in a machinery spirit and with devotion. “The honesty and zest to protect and safe-guard Waqf interests and its property should be the bench mark of Waqf employees services”, he emphasised.
“We are the trustees and protectors of holy shrines, mosques and religious institutions and it is our bounden duty to take every step in protecting, maintaining and safe-guarding these places. We should also take every care to facilitate the prayers and visits of devotees to these holy places”, he maintained.
The Chief Minister said “It is not only moral and legal duty but religious obligation of the allottees of Waqf properties to pay the proper and timely rent to the Board.
The Minister for Finance, A.R. Rather, Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar, Vice Chairman Waqf Board M. Y. Qadri, Members Mohi-ud-Din Mattoo, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, Moulana Showket Ahmad Keng, Moulana Ghulam Rasool Hami, Dr. Mehraj-ud- Din and Ehsan Mirza were present in the meeting.
The meeting reviewed action taken by the Board on various issues entrusted to it in the last meeting. It also reviewed the assignments under implementation at present.
The matters pertaining to the interior work of Charar-e-Sharief, installation of passenger rope way at Maqdoom Sahib (RA), computerization of Waqf records, upgradation of facilities at Hazratbal and construction of commercial establishments were also discussed in the meeting.
The meeting decided for taking appropriate measures for enhancing the rent for the Waqf property being used for commercial purposes by the allottees. The collection of rent and steps for the protection and upkeep of Waqf properties were also discussed and finalized in the meeting.
The meeting also discussed measures being taken by the Waqf Board to maintain various properties and providing mubaligs (religious teachers) to the institutions and mosques under the control of Wqaf Board.
Giving brief about the activities and performance of Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Waqf Board, the Vice Chairman presented a resume of work done by the Board during last one and half years. He also gave details of various programmes in the pipeline to protect and safe-guard the property of Waqf and maintain shrines and mosques.
Qadri said Waqf Board provided free relief worth Rs 20 lakhs to the poor and needy in the valley during the recent law and order situation. “We have also provided food grains and cash assistance to the poor through various mosques”, he added.