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The Central Wakf Council as a
Statutory Body was established in December, 1964 by the Government of India
under the provision of Section 8A of Wakf Act, 1954
(now read as sub section 1 of the Section 9 of the Wakf
Act, 1995) for the purpose of advising it 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 Incharge of Wakfs and such other members not exceeding 20 in numbers
appointed by Government of India as stipulated in the Act. The Secretary is
the Chief Executive of the Council. The Council office at present works at Jamnagar House, New
Delhi.
In terms of Section 10(1) of the Wakf Act, 1995,
the Council derives its income from the contribution received by it from the
various State Wakf Boards @ 1% (one per cent) of
the net income of the Wakfs. All administrative and
other expenses of the Council are met out of from this income.
Wakf
Wakf is a permanent dedication of movable or
immovable properties for religious, pious or charitable purposes as
recognized by Muslim Law. The Wakf Institutions
deal with the religious, social and economic life of Muslims. They are not
only supporting Mosques, Dargah etc. But many of
them support Schools, Colleges, Hospitals and Musafirkhanas
which are meant for social welfare.
Administration of Wakf
The Central Government is responsible for the implementation of the Wakf Act. It has been taking up issues of common concern
to promote the interests of Wakfs in the country.
The Wakf Act, 1954 had provisions for survey of Wakfs, constitution of Central Wakf
Council and State Wakf Boards etc. For better
interpretation of the provision of the Act keeping in view the objective of
the legislation, the Wakf Act, 1954 was amended
many times. Finally a comprehensive and land mark legislation i.e. Wakf Act, 1995 was enacted by the Government of India in
November, 1995, which became effective from 01.01.1996. In contrast to the
previous Act, this Act is applicable throughout the country except for Jammu
& Kashmir and Dargah Khwaja
Saheb, Ajmer.
Functioning of the Central Wakf Council
Central Wakf
Council normally meets twice in a year. However, the Committees of the
Council, which consist of its Members meet as often
as possible to transact business regarding the monitoring of the programmes of the Council, administrative and financial
matters, implementation of the scheme for the Development of Urban Wakf Properties and Educational schemes of the Council.
The Committees also discharge the functions entrusted to by the Council from
time to time.
The main function of the Central Wakf Council is to
advise the Government of India on matters concerning the working of Wakf Boards and the due administration of Wakfs in the country. Beside that the important issues
affecting the community especially those pertaining to religious
matters/Islamic affairs like administration of Mosques, Dargahs
and proper management of properties are also considered by the Council/its
Committees. Whenever matters of general interest regarding management of Wakfs in State are to be taken up at the level of the
Central Government the same are generally referred to the Central Wakf Council.
Development Activities
A) Development of Urban Wakf Properties
With a view to protect vacant Wakf land from
encroachers and to develop it on commercial lines for generating more income
in an order to widen welfare activities, Central Wakf
Council has been implementing this scheme since 1974-75 with yearly
grant-in-aid from the Central Government. Under the Scheme, loan is extended
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. For
this, the Central Government has released a total grant-in-aid amounting to Rs. 33 crores 16.36 lakhs only between September 1974 to
March, 2009, and in turn the Central Wakf
Council has extended loan to 123 projects approved by the Council as well as
by the Government of India. Out of these 123 projects 75 projects have been
completed in all respect and are yielding income. The loan amount is repaid
to the Council by the loanee institutions in easy instalments and the amount thus received back forms a Revolving
Fund, which is again utilized for giving loans up to Rs. 20 lakhs to the Minor
Development Projects on Wakf properties. From this
Fund, the Council had released a sum of Rs. 4 crores 91.89 lakhs to 90
projects up to 31.3.2009 out of which 68 projects have been completed.
Therefore, with the total grant-in-aid of Rs.33 crores 16.36 lakhs received by
the Council, it has been able to get 143 projects completed and the work on
the remaining sites is in progress. This has received appreciation of all
sections of the society describing it a magic of management. The grant-in-aid
received by The Central Wakf Council is forwarded to
the loanee Wakf in the
form of interest free loans for the Development of Urban Wakf
Properties while the Council bears the entire expenditure on the staff
working in the Scheme as well as other expenses on paper, postage etc.
Against this service rendered by the Council, it puts two conditions on the loanee Wakf institutions i.e.
(i) they would pay 6% donation on the outstanding
loan to the Education Fund for the Educational Scheme of the
Council meant for educational upliftment of the
poor Muslims;
(ii) after the repayment of the loan, they would spend 40% of their enhanced
income on the education of the Muslims particularly on the technical
educations.
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B) Educational Scheme
The 6% donation received from loanee Wakfs on the outstanding, as well as the interest accrued
on the Bank deposits of the Revolving Fund, form the Education Fund
of the Council. This Fund is utilised for
implementing the following programmes;
i) Matching Grant to the State Wakf
Boards for providing scholarship in their respective States to the Higher
Secondary, Madarsa students and to the students
undergoing Technical/Professional Diploma Courses.
ii) Grant for the establishment of I.T.Is. in the
Muslim concentrated areas.
iii) Financial assistance to Voluntary Organizations for Vocational Training Centres.
iv)Financial assistance to Libraries for developing Book Bank.
Till 2007-2008, the Central Wakf Council had programme of scholarship for the student of
Technical/Professional degree courses. Similarly, it was giving Ad-hoc grant
to the students of general degree courses. Thus, up to March 31, 2008, a
total of 12,952 scholarships were issued by the Council to the students of
Technical Degree courses like MBBS, BUMS, BAMS, B.Tech
and B.Sc. (Ag) etc. Similarly, in 6366 cases “Ad-hoc” grant were
given to Poor and Needy Students of general degree courses. The
Scholarship/Ad-hoc grant scheme of the Council has been discontinued, owing
to the implementation of the similar scheme of Ministry of Minority Affairs
Government of India. Now for all type of scholarship, please visit the
website of the Ministry of Minority Affairs:
www.minorityaffairs.gov.in
Up to March 31, 2009, under
the programme of vocational training, 624 Voluntary Organisations/ Technical
Institutes have been assisted. Similarly, under the scheme for setting up I.T.Is., the Central Wakf
Council has approved eighteen I.T.Is.
in the Muslim concentrated areas.
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