Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today ordered constitution of a committee to suggest a mechanism for streamlining the collection of endowments at shrines and rentals, of commercial assets owned by state Wakf Board, in a more transparent manner.
With a view to arresting the potential of pilferage in donation made by the devotees and income generated out of commercial assets owned by J-K Wakf Board, the Chief Minister ordered constitution of a committee to suggest a mechanism to streamline collection of endowments and rentals in a more transparent manner, an official spokesman said.
He said the chief minister also indicated possible revision of rentals on leased-out Wakf Board's landed and commercial assets to improve its weak revenue resource base.
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"If need be, we can even contemplate amending the Jammu & Kashmir Muslim Specified Wakf and Specified Wakf Properties Act," the chief minister said, while favouring a sizeable hike in the abysmally-low rentals currently in vogue.
The Chief Minister made these observations while chairing the 21st Board of Directors meeting of J-K Wakf Board here.
Expressing concern over low income generated, Sayeed, who is also the Chairman of the Wakf Board, highlighted the need to embed a system which ensures that endowment money goes straight into the kitty of Board's income so that it is ploughed back into maintenance of assets and shrines.
"We must put a mechanism in place to suggest checks and balances over the collection of donations at various shrines," he said.