Jammu, Mar 28 (PTI) Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday asked the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf board to construct schools, colleges, industrial training institutes and hospitals to serve the 1.25 crore citizens of the Union Territory.

He also said the board must also look into setting up of multi-purpose community halls, girls' hostels, 'Hunar Haats' and employment-oriented skill development centres.

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The board now operating according to the Central Waqf Act will bring transparency in the administration of Waqf properties and provide an environment for utilisation of properties for larger benefit of the community, Sinha said.

He also felicitated the newly appointed chairperson of the J&K Waqf Board, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, and members- Dr Ghulam Nabi Haleem, Syed Mohammad Hussain, Sohail Kazmi and Nawab Din.

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Speaking on the occasion, Sinha said, "I have been told that there are more than 32,000 registered Waqf properties in J&K today. Many of these properties have the potential of generating considerable returns, which in turn could be used for the socio-economic development of the community."

The Lt Governor said that the Waqf Board should sow the seeds of friendship and goodwill among communities through impactful social welfare initiatives aimed at bringing positive changes in the lives of ordinary citizens.

“In India, we have always followed and promoted the principle of ‘Sarva Pantha Sambhav'. This invaluable Indian tradition has to be nurtured by all of you through the Waqf Board in the UT with your social welfare activities and developmental actions in the coming times,” he said.

The Lt Governor also noted that the J&K Waqf Board under the chairpersonship of Andrabi is now empowered for survey of Waqf properties, maintenance of Waqf deeds, revenue generation, and prevention of encroachment of Waqf properties.

“I express my gratitude to the Prime Minister who, on 5th August 2019, extended the Central Waqf Act along with 890 central laws to Jammu and Kashmir after seven decades, giving Dr Andrabi and other eminent personalities a chance to serve the UT and 1.25 crore people through Waqf Board”, he said.

Sinha observed that Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing growth and development in every sphere of life.

Dedicated efforts are being made to bring in investment in the UT, generate ample employment avenues, make recruitments transparently and utilise every penny for the welfare of ordinary citizens, he added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)