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The Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Smt. Miera Kumar has urged State Wakf Boards to prevent encroachment of Wakf lands. Inaugurating the meeting of the Chairpersons of the State Wakf Boards here today, Smt. Kumar described the encroachment of Wakf land as very serious. She said that State Wakf Boards must take necessary steps to remove encroachments. Smt. Kumar said that proper commercial development of Wakf lands not only prevent encroachment but also enhance their commercial value and consequently, the income which is to be used for charitable tasks. The Minister referred to the efforts being made in this regard in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. She said the U.P. Wakf Development Corporation is reported o be functioning effectively as a real estate developer. Similarly, in Karnataka the State Wakf Council is providing financial assistance to individual wakfs for commercial exploitation of their properties. Smt. Kumar informed the meeting that the Central Wakf Council has taken up 168 projects for construction of commercial complexes. Drawing the attention of participants to the President’s call for new wave of investment in education in his Address to the Joint Session of Parliament, Smt. Kumar said "there could be no better contribution than utilizing our financial resources of Wakfs for promotion of girls’ education, particularly in the rural and inaccessible areas.
It is for the first time that the Chairpersons of Wakf Boards the States and Union Territories are participating in the meeting to discuss various Wakf issues. These include encroachment, survey and development of Wakf properties. 21 states and five Union Territories have so far constituted Wakf Boards.
MLD/….SJE-54(Wakf meeting)March 01
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