Srinagar: A delegation of PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry Kashmir Chapter comprising of Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya, Baldev Singh Raina, Jan Muhammad Kaul, Tariq Rashid Ghani, Akib Chaya, Qaisar Mir and Aashiq Ahmad had a meeting with Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, Member Central Waqaf Council and Chairperson, Waqaf Development Committee, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India.
According to a statement issued by the PHD Chamber today, the organisation maintained that the “managerial structure of the Aquaf Department must be improved.”
“Simultaneously, to enable and encourage the creation of world class facilities in Shrines, this prestigious institution of J&K must be modernized and the gross and visible corruption and mismanagement needs to be audited urgently”, it added.
“The chamber highlighted the issues confronted by the tenants /lessees due to absence of any decision making body in the Aquaf and the chamber suggested that it is important to have an advisory group of concerned citizens, who are devout believers and can give advice on better management of the Shrines. The chamber stated that the revenues from different sources of Aquaf should be ploughed back into improving the facilities in the Shrines, especially public health facilities, building schools, Universities and Professional Institutions”, the statement added.
Mr Baldev said he held high reverence for the shrines of Sufi saints and that he wished these to prosper.
Jan Muhammad Kaul and Tariq Rashid Ghani, while highlighting the issue of donations made by devotees said there was an urgent need for carrying out the human resource audit in the Waqf.
While concluding the meeting Dr Andrabi ensured PHDCCI that she will contribute religiously for this noble cause of improving and reforming and protection of the waqaf properties of J&K.
Dr Andrabi said that Waqaf should take lessons from Boards and Trusts of other religions who have created world class multiple assets like Hospitals and universities.
“The donations and charities from our shrines originates from people and it should go back to the people. So, there must be clearly laid-out policies to productively utilize the funds of these places on public welfare. The Supreme Court directive to all religious institutions to furnish an annual account of their income and expenditure is a milestone in this regard’, she added.