Income from Waqf plots can be used for upliftment: Najma Heptulla

The optimal use of Waqf properties in the country could yield an annual income of Rs 12,000 crore which can be used for education and other upliftment projects for the Muslim community, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptulla today said.

Chairing a meeting of Minority Affairs officials from seven northern states of the country here, Heptulla also said that her ministry is planning to develop these properties under the private-public partnership mode so that these can be put to commercial use.

"The Waqf properties in the country can yield an annual income of Rs 12,000 crore which can be used for education and other upliftment projects for the community," Heptulla told reporters after the meeting.

Asked about the vast encroachments on Waqf properties, the minister said the Parliamentary Standing Committee has returned the Bill and further action would be taken once the Bill is passed by the Parliament.

"Once the Bill is passed by the Parliament, our position will be strengthened and we will vacate all the illegal encroachers from these properties," she said.

Heptulla said she has held a similar meeting for western states in Mumbai earlier this year which was a success.

"Such meetings give the states an opportunity to learn from each other ...They share their successful programs. We will hold similar meetings for southern and eastern region also so that we are able to reach out to people living in remote areas and mitigate their problems.

"The message we want to give is that the Modi government is at your doorsteps to solve your problems," she added.

Later, the Union Minister called on Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to discuss the programmes of her ministry in respect of Jammu and Kashmir.