Hi-tech Minority Report

With the Muslim population constituting one of the largest vote banks in the
country, the center has decided to introduce computerization of Wakf board
records. It will cut down the paperwork for volumes of files and correspondence.

Even though Wakf properties are spread all across the country, most states
have not even undertaken a basic survey of these properties. This has resulted
in large scale encroachment and non development of properties, besides loss in
income that these Wakf properties could have generated for the welfare schemes
of the community.

To address these issues, the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Wakf in its
ninth report during the eleventh five year plan (2009-2012) recommended
computerization of the records of the Wakf Boards at an estimated cost of Rs 25
crore. The proposal was considered in the Minority Affairs Ministry and approval
was granted by the PMO, sanctioning a token provision of Rs 10 crore in 2009-10.

The scheme of computerization will be uniformly applicable across all the
twenty-nine state Wakf boards. The Jammu & Kashmir board can make a special
request for funding as it is not covered under the Wakf Act, 1995. Under the
project, provision has also been made for a hand-holding support period of two
years between 2010-12 with limited financial support for hiring computer
personnel to stabilize the new system and train the board officials.

The funds, however, will be released to the NIC who will implement the
project on turnkey basis and to the state boards directly. The Central Wakf
Council would network with the State Wakf Boards and the NIC, and also oversee
reconciliation of data. Utilization certificates would be routed through the
state governments by the Wakf boards concerned after due expenditure.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs will essay the role of implementation
facilitator for overseeing the entire project rollout. It will also dole out
funds and steer the project by constituting the steering committee. The state
governments meanwhile will be responsible for setting up a state level committee
for coordination with the field departments for implementation and providing
access to other relevant databases in the state.

The project will be rolled out in three phases. In the first phase, proper
survey and cross-checking of Wakf data from various computer databases
maintained at the state level such as the revenue departments will be done. In
addition, properties registration management of Wakf boards, Muttawalli returns
management system.

Once the first phase has been successfully rolled out, the second phase will
see GIS of Wakf properties develop coordinates to ensure timely detection of
encroachments, and hence, prevent them. The digitization of all manual records,
deeds, and legal documents; and standardization and automation of Wakf registers
will result in the implementation of a web based centralized application for
Wakf management.

The third phase will see computerization of peripheral activities of the
state Wakf boards, like pay and accounts, establishment, administration, etc,
resulting in better administration of the Wakf boards.

Keeping in mind the magnitude of the data to be entered and processed,
qualified skilled personnel will be required. Therefore, not exceeding 2% of the
total budget will be made to meet the administrative and related costs.

Stuti Das

stutid@cybermedia.co.in