By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: The Chief Minister of Manipur, Okram Ibobi Singh inaugurated the office building of the Chairman of Wakf Board, Manipur on August 23, 2013 at Minuthong Hafiz Hatta in Imphal.
Speaking at the occasion as Chief Guest, Ibobi Singh said the present office building of Wakf Board, Manipur is not a good one. He assured that he would construct a proper building of the Board if there is no land dispute. He further declared that he is ready to construct the new building of the Board equipped with a Musafir Khana or Guest House, state-of-the-art VIP Conference Hall, among others.
The Chief Minister also assured that the State Government would take up all the necessary works for the welfare of the minority Muslims of the State. The State Government will not wait for the Centre or State’s fund to implement any developmental programme for the minorities. If necessary the Government will utilize any available fund to implement developmental works for the minorities of the State. I sincerely want to provide all the required infrastructures for the development of the backward Muslims of the State.
He further said the Muslim Girl's Hostel was constructed by the State Government in consultation with late Minister Md. Alauddin. However, the hostel does not have adequate infrastructure. The hostel is very crowded and there is no play-ground for the hostellers. If necessary the campus of the hostel could be expanded using the available free land of the Board, he added. The Girls’ Hostel building at Hafiz Hatta was inaugurated by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on December 12, 2010.
The Chief Minister also stated that he would try to fulfil the other requirements of the Board including that of the Muslim Girl's Hostel in consultation with the Chairman of the Board, Minister Abdul Nasir and Parliamentary Secretary (Minorities & Other Backward Classes) Md. Amin Shah and other leaders of the community at the earliest.
The inaugural function was graced by Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Md. Abdul Nasir as Guest of Honour and presided by MLA and Chairman of Wakf Board, Manipur Md. Fajur Rahim.
Wakf Board, Manipur was constituted in 1988 by the Government of Manipur under the Wakf Act, 1954. The Board takes up the following schemes:
1. Financial assistance to masjids, kabarstans and idgahs
Under the scheme financial assistance is provided to registered wakfs of the State, like masjids, kabarstans and idgahs for the development of infrastructures. There are 72 madrasas and 97 maktabs in Manipur registered to the Board. The Board had also initiated madrasa modernization programme in some of the madrasas of the State.
2. Pre-Matric Scholarship to Muslim Girl students
The Board gives scholarship to Muslim girl students of the State to encourage them to complete school education.
3. Central Wakf Scholarship Scheme to Muslim students of the State
4. Financial assistance to poor widows and destitute Muslim women
