Mehbooba seeks revamp of state Wakf Board

Srinagar, May 3 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief MinisterMehbooba Mufti has sought structural revamp of state WakfBoard, asking it to take a cue from similar religiousorganisations which have created a huge social sectorinfrastructure base by prudent use of assets and endowmentmoney. The Chief Minister ordered immediate mapping andinventory management of landed property and physical assetsincluding details of revenue, expenditure and human resourceon the rolls of the organization, an official spokesman saidhere today. Mehbooba made these remarks while chairing the 23rdmeeting of the Board of Directors of the Jammu and KashmirWakf Board here yesterday, he said. The Chief Minister asked the Board to take a cue fromsimilar religious organizations functioning in the state,which by prudent use of their assets and endowment money, havebeen able to create a huge social sector infrastructure base. "I see no reason why we cannot replicate the samemethodology where our immovable assets become moreremunerative and endowment money is channeled back into thesystem in the form of social infrastructure," she said. Advocating better management of resources, the ChiefMinister, who is also the Chairperson of the Board, said theonus for proper utilization of endowment money entirely lieson the Board as devotees, who throng various shrines in largenumbers, contribute with a great sense of reverence. "We need a transparent system of operations which ensuresthat this endowment money goes straight into the Board kittyso that it is ploughed back into the system in the form ofassets or wazeefa (stipend) to old and needy people," Mehboobasaid, adding the Board’s official website should host all thedetails in this regard. On the issue of Board’s immovable properties becomingunproductive, the Chief Minister described as inadequate therevenue realized as rentals from multiple commercial assetsbelonging to the organisation. She hinted at a possible revision of rentals on leasedout landed property to improve the weak revenue base of WakfBoard. More PTI SSB AAR DVAAR