Shri K Rahman Khan, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Chairman, Central Wakf Council (CWC) laid the foundation stone of Central Wakf Bhawan, Office building of Central Wakf Council here today. Speaking on the ocassion the Minister said that The Central Wakf Bhawan would emerge as the epicenter of Wakf Management in the country and would provide greater support in all forms not only to the State Wakf Boards but also feed necessary inputs to the Ministry of Minority Affairs for timely implementation of various policy measures for the betterment of the Wakfs. The Central Wakf Council will play an important role in bringing changes in the status of muslim community with the help of wakf properties, the Minister said. The CWC will serve not only the community but the nation by efficiently managing wakfs. The amendments in the Wakf Bill will empower those responsible for managing wakfs,he added.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Ninong Ering, the Minister of State for Minority Affairs said that the Ministry has transformed under the leadership of Shri K Rahman Khan and is woking with new vigor and commitment.
Shri Lalit K Panwar, the Secretary Minority Affairs assured all present, of timely completion of the building. Earler briefly mentioning the history, the CWC Secretary Shri Ali Ahmed Khan said this moment is a part of long unfolding story. Central Wakf Council with the help of Govt. of India got a piece of land allotted by the Ministry of Urban Development for its office building as the Council is presently housed in the hutment of Jamnagar House, he added.
The Central Wakf Council was established in 1964 under the provision of Wakf Act, 1954 as advisory body to Central Government on Wakf matters. Prof. Humayun Kabir was its first Chairman, who was the Union Minister of Petroleum at that time in the cabinet. Since then the prominent Muslim personalities of the time have been associated with this organization and have contributed immensely for the development of the Wakf in the country.
The Central Wakf Council has been under the shelter of different Ministries which was later accommodated in the Ministry of Welfare in 1985. As a result of focused efforts to create a Ministry dedicated for the welfare of the Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs came in to being in the year 2005 and the Wakf has become permanent part of the Ministry.
CPWD has been assigned the task of designing and constructing the office building in an area of 1008 sq.mtrs and expected to be completed in the next 10-12 months. The Wakf Bhawan would be fully equipped with all the modern infra structural facilities such as Auditorium, Central Library, Conference Hall etc.