My understanding of Wakf Board in India

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     The Wakf Board is a statuary body constituted under the Wakf Act 1955 to be administered, controlled and managed by the Wakf properties.

·        Wakf Board functions as per the Wakf Act with charity as its dominant feature.

·        The Board receives movable or immovable property which is dedicated permanently by a person professing Islam.

·        The income of the Wakf Property is utilized for charity, assistance to the poor and needy, maintenance of the Mosque, Dargah, Graveyards, educational institutions, hospitals.

·        Almost all the states (excluding Jammu & Kashmir) and Union Territories of India have a Wakf Board working towards management, regulation and protect the Wakf properties.

·        Each of these Boards consists of 11 members (5 members in case of U.T’s) and a Chairman.

·        The Central Wakf Council advises the Government of India on matters pertaining to working of the State Wakf Boards and proper administration of the Wakfs in the country.

·        The Council consists of Chairperson, who is the Union Minister In charge of Wakfs and such other members not exceeding 20 in numbers appointed by Government of India.

·        The Chief Executive Officer of the Central Wakf Council exercises powers of control, supervision and management over the office and staff of the Council.

·        The Council derives its income from the contribution received by it from the various State Wakf Boards.

·        Four Committees, each consisting of 5 members and a chair person are established by the Council to carry on their respective functions.

1.      Planning & Advisory Committee

2.      Education & Women Welfare Committee

3.      Wakf Development Committee

4.  Monitoring Committee

·        Chief development activities undertaken by the council are

1.      Financial assistance to libraries for developing book banks.

2. Providing scholarship to the school students, madarasa students and to the students doing technical/professional diploma courses.

3. Providing grant for the establishment of I.T.I.s in the Muslim concentrated areas.

4. Establishment of Vocational Training Centres aimed at job oriented training with maximum practical exposure, with the view to improve employability.

5. Loan extension to various Wakf Institutions in the Country for taking up economically viable buildings on the Wakf land such as commercial complex, marriage halls, hospitals, cold storage etc.

     Further development of Wakf activities from the present   state

·        Financial assistance for the establishment of educational institutions and hospitals in remote areas.

·        Promoting Wakf concept in the society by maintaining transparency regarding activities of the council.

·        Encouraging entrepreneurship, thereby improving employment opportunities by granting loans to enthusiastic people.

·        Establishment of orphanages and old age homes.

·        Encouraging youth to be a part of the development activities taken by the council.

·        Providing grants for maintenance of existing mosques, dargahs.

·        Following green building practices during the construction of shopping malls, hospitals thereby promoting for energy conservation and sustainable environment.