Union Minister of Minorities Affairs, Mr. K.Rehman Khan told that Govt. of India is actively considering for a new enactment to ensure the protection of wakf properties in India under which State Wakf Board would be delegated additional powers to enable them to take immediate action for eviction of leased wakf properties on the expiry of the period of leased deal and also to dislodge illegal occupants of wakf properties.
Mr. Rehman Khan was addressing the press conference yesterday in Hyderabad. He told that Govt. is engaged in finalizing the draft bill for this. It is expected that this drafted would be finalized very soon. It will be presented in the next session of the Parliament. Under this act, Wakf Board can file an FIR in police stations to enable the police to take immediate action to arrest those persons who violate wakf law. This act will make a provision for a Wakf Board to take immediate action against the illegal occupants without waiting for a long time and it will avoid lengthy legal proceedings in the court. He also said that Central Govt. is trying to frame unified rules and regulations in respect of wakf properties thought out the country. He further told that Govt. has prepared a bill for the protection of wakf properties as suggested by Justice Sachar Committee. This bill was presented in Raya Sabha but it was referred to the select committee. The select committee had made some suggestions. In the light of these suggestions, wakf amendment bill has been presented to Rajya Sabha again. Since no business was transacted in Rajya Sabha during the last session, this bill could not be passed. He hoped that in the next session of the Parliament, wakf amendment bill would be passed. After passing this bill, Central Wakf Council will get additional powers. All the State Governments would be bound to implement the orders of the Central Wakf Council. If any State Govt. differs form the orders of the Central Wakf Council, it can appeal to the Appellate Authority instituted in Central Wakf Council.
Mr. Rehman Khan further told under the new wakf act, the period of lease is proposed to be increased from three years to 30 years because by leasing wakf properties, their development is being hampered. He told that rules and regulations of leasing would be finalized by central Wakf Council and it would be binding on all the State Govt. to implement them. The amount of lease would be determined on the basis of market value. The renewal of lease deal would also depend on the market value. In this way all the wakf affairs would be uniform for the entire country. Mr. Rahman Khan told that Ministry of Minority Affairs is serious about the protection of wakf properties. This could be achieved only by enacting stringent laws. Mr. Rehman Khan admitted that banks are not showing interest in sanctioning loans to Minorities. According to the regulations of Reserve Bank of India, Minorities should be given 15% share of the total loans sanctioned by the banks. In this way, Minorities should get Rs.1, 76, 000 thousand crore but the functioning of bank is very regrettable. Ministry of Minorities Welfare procured some details about the loans sanctioned to minorities which are not satisfactory. He said that his ministry will make attempts to ensure sanctioning loans by the banks to the extend of 15% as envisaged in 15 Point Program of Prime Minister of India. He informed that under MSDP plan of Govt. of India,7 district of A.P. have been included for development for the first time. As per census of 2001, Minority concentration areas have been included under this schemes. Earlier only the districts were under this schemd but how this scheme will be implemented at blocks level. In Andhra Pradesh, Medak, Kadpah, Kurnool, Niazamabad, Adilabad, Ranga reddy and Guntur have been brought under this scheme. He told that in these districts, this scheme will b implemented in 10 blocks and 12 towns.
Mr.Rehman Khan further told that students are getting educational scholarship form Maualan Azad Educational Foundation. Various welfare schemes for the benefit of minorities are being implemented under 11 ministries of Govt. of India. He requested A.P. State Minorities Commissions and Minority leaders to create awareness among the community for these schemes. In 12th Five- Year Plan , a sum Rs.17, 775, 000 thousand crore have been allocated for over all development of Minorities schemes where as in 11th plan this amount was only Rs.8, 000 crore. Under this plan in every block, Rs.5-6 crore would be spend on the devilment of Minorities.
On this question of not spending the allocated amount of Rs.8, 000 crore, Mr. Rehman clarified that his ministry is not responsible for this. Many major states did not utilize this fund fully an they did not send any proposals for Minorities Development, hence the allocate budget could not be utilized completely.He further told that Sachar committee had made 72 recommendations, out of which 69 recommendations have been accepted by Govt. of India. He further informed that arrangements are being made for coaching 800-1000 candidates for Civil Services. In addition to this subsidy is being provided in educational loan.
Present on this occasion were Mr. M.A. Khan, M.P. Mr. Farooq Hussain, Hafiz Peer Shabbeer Ahmed (MLC’s), Maulana Syed Gulam Afzal Biyabani, Chairman of A.P. State Wakf Board, Mr. Abid Rasool Khan, Chairman , A.P. Minorities Commission and others.
–Siasat News