There is some refreshing news related to the functioning of the J&K Muslim Waqf Board. The fact that its vice chairman chose to address some of the public concerns about its functioning and priorities is welcome. Now that there is better clarity of some of the issues confronting the Board, it is the right time for embracing a greater vision for a transformation of this important institution. The first thing the Board needs to do is to continue its proactive approach towards a clean-up of its financial management systems. Although some part of that seems to have been initiated, a far greater task lies ahead. For a financial management system that takes care of the growing public concerns for accountability and transparency, a far greater effort would be required to usher in new financial and administrative management systems. Once that is done, a more prudent and productive use of the vast Waqf properties will be possible. In that context it is again a welcome move to make public details of some of the most valued Waqf assets. However, making the assets public also provides an opportunity to encourage a public debate about the productive ways of utilizing these assets for the wellbeing of the people of the state. Two priorities must remain on the top – one relates to creating educational institutions of excellence and the other a social welfare system that takes care of the financial and other social needs of the most downtrodden sections of the society. Although the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) has been a good endeavor towards this direction, much more needs to be done. J&K state needs institutions of educational excellence today because a large number of its youngsters leave the state creating a situation of an avoidable brain drain. That is an area where the Waqf can definitely fill in the void. So the question now is: Is the Board ready to embrace a new vision for a more productive use of its assets and resources? 

Lastupdate on : Fri, 7 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 7 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 8 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST