The Central government on Friday announced the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) portal aimed at serving as “a centralized digital platform for real-time uploading, verification, and monitoring of Waqf properties.” Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju claimed it to be a “historic step” that would ensure that Waqf assets are utilised and distributed fairly for the poor Muslims.
Govt Launches UMEED Portal For Waqf Properties
Kiren Rijiju directed all the Waqf board representatives, who were virtually present at the launch to keep a six-month deadline in mind.
What did Kiren Rijiju say?
Rijiju claimed that "The UMEED portal will add a new chapter in the history of Waqf property management and administration in India. It will not only bring transparency but will also help the common Muslims, particularly women and children.”
Calling the portal more than just a technological upgrade, he said that, "It is a symbol of the government's firm commitment to safeguarding the rights of minority communities and ensuring that community-owned Waqf assets are utilised effectively and fairly, for the poor Muslims, for whom, it was originally meant.”
The portal was inaugurated in the presence of Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian.
The portal, named after the UMEED Act, 1995 attempts to introduce transparency, public participation and accountability.
What does the UMEED portal include?
It will facilitate the geo-tagging of all Waqf properties that would create a digital inventory for the same. A 17-digit unique identification number will be allotted to each property to aid the process. It would also foster usage tracking and transparent leasing.
Integration with GIS mapping and other e-Governance tools, along with an online grievance redressal system will also form part of the portal.
A three-tier user verification process has been instated into the system where the “Maker” is a mutawalli or an authorised person of the Waqf Board who will initiate data entry. The data will be verified by a “Checker” who will be district-level officer or a designated official. The final approval will rest with the “Approver” who is the CEO or another officer authorised by the State or UT Waqf Board.
Ministry of Minority Affairs Secretary Chandra Shekhar Kumar asserted that he expected the UMEED portal to become the backbone of digital Waqf governance, thereby ensuring that the Waqf assets contribute meaningfully to education, healthcare, livelihood generation and social welfare, especially for underprivileged sections within the Muslim community.
AIMPLB’S stance
The move comes a day after the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) opposed the launch citing the pending petitions before the Supreme Court pertaining to the Waqf law.
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The AIMPLB released a statement stating that, "Opposition parties, human rights organisations, as well as Sikh, Christian, and other minority communities have also declared it unacceptable. However, it is unfortunate that despite this, the government is launching the 'Waqf UMEED portal' from June 6 and is making the registration of waqf properties mandatory through it. This action is entirely illegal and clearly constitutes contempt of court.”
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