New Delhi/ Port Blair, June 20: All waqf properties across India will be geo-tagged and digitized and the government will provide 100 per cent funding to develop educational institutions and hospitals on such properties for the welfare of society, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Wednesday.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, while chairing the 80th meeting of the Central Waqf Council here, said there are around 5.77 lakh registered waqf properties across the country and their geo-tagging and digitalisation will ensure transparency and safety of records.

The Centre has decided to start a programme on a war footing to utilisewaqf properties across the country for educational empowerment and employment-oriented skill development of the needy, especially economically backward girls in those areas which were deprived of these facilities since Independence, the minority affairs minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has decided to provide 100 per cent funding to develop schools, colleges, ITIs, polytechnics, hospitals, multi-purpose community halls "SadbhavMandap" on waqf land under Pradhanmantri Jan VikasKarykram (PMJVK), he said.

A programme on a war footing has been launched for 100 per cent geo-tagging and digitalisation of waqf properties across the country to ensure these properties can be utilised for the welfare of society, Naqvi said.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that while only 90 districts of the country had been identified for minority communities' development during the earlier government, the Modi government has expanded development programmes for minorities in 308 districts of the country.

A report of a five-member committee constituted to review waqf properties lease rule, headed by Justice (Retd) Zakiullah Khan, has been submitted, Naqvi told reporters.

The recommendations of the committee will ensure that waqf rules are made easy and effective for better utilisation of waqf properties and to free these properties, several of which are entangled in disputes for several decades, from disputes, he said.

The Central government is taking necessary action on the recommendations of the committee.

The Central Waqf Council is providing financial help to state waqf boards for digitalisation of waqf records so that state waqf boards can complete digitalisation work within the decided time frame.

"GIS/GPS mapping of the waqf properties has been initiated with the help of IIT Roorkee and Aligarh Muslim University. The Central Waqf Council has provided video conferencing facilities to 20 state waqf boards and it would be provided in the remaining state waqf boards by the end of this year," he said.

Naqvi's announcement of geo-tagging of waqf properties comes a day after he spelt out the government's plan to empower the minorities.

Several scholarships such as pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means will be provided to 5 crore students from minority communities, including 50 per cent girls, over the next five years, he had said on Tuesday.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had also said girls from minority communities who have dropped out of school will be linked to education and employment through "bridge courses" from reputed educational institutions of the country.

Madrassa teachers across the country will be trained by various institutions in mainstream subjects such as Hindi, English, Maths, Science and Computer so that they can impart mainstream education to the madrassa students, he said.

The A & N Islands Waqf Board has already taken up the issue regarding development of Waqf lands. The Waqf Board has proposed expansion of School and Construction of SadbhavMandap in Ferrargunj Tehsil which has been declared as Minority Concentrated Block. The proposal of the Waqf Board was discussed at the District Level Committee constituted under Pradhanmantri Jan VikasKarykram (PMJVK). The proposal of the District Committee was also examined by the Chief Secretary at the State Level Committee. The Waqf Board expects the approval of the proposal at an early date. 

With the assistance of the Ministry of Minority Affairs the Waqf Board has already initiated the process of digitization of the records under Waqf Management System of India (WAMSI) scheme. The Survey of Waqf Properties is also under process and the GIS & GPS mapping of the properties would be done at an early date with the help of IIT Roorkee and Aligarh Muslim University. The Ministry of Minority Affairshas also provided the Waqf Board with the equipments for installation of Video Conference facility so that the projects are monitored by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the scheme are implemented for the welfare of the Minority Communities.