Najma Heptulla confident of Waqf Property Bill getting passed in next session

NEW DELHI: Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla today exuded confidence over the passage of the Waqf Property Bill in the winter session of Parliament, which seeks to ensure removal of encroachment from Waqf lands and use the the income generated to empower the downtrodden.

"In the next session of Parliament, we will definitely get the bill passed but provided the House runs," she told reporters here while launching an online management system of the newly launched 'NaiRoshni' programme.

She, however, refused to comment on the recommendations of a Parliamentary panel to increase the penal provisions on unlawful occupations, but said the suggestions should be "positive" in nature as efforts has to be made to release the properties spread over six lakh hectors across the country.

Making a wide range of suggestions to give more teeth to the Bill, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment in its report tabled in the monsoon session, had recommended increasing imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs one lakh.

Along with unlawful occupation of Waqf properties, it suggested that encouraging or promotion of such encroachments should also be treated as an offence.

Heptulla said they have identified properties, which were not under encroachment in different cities and places, to develop them soon.

When asked for her reaction on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to UAE, Heptulla described it "extremely positive" and said the perception that UAE was supporting Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir was proved wrong following the PM's trip.

"There was a perception that UAE has been supporting Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. That issue became clear. They gave us importance and extended their hands of friendship. Over two million Indians work there.

"Today, the fear of terrorism that is looming large in the Gulf countries and the join statement issued during the PM's visit makes it clear that Pakistan is isolated today,"she said

Turning her attention to the NaiRoshni programme, to seek to empower minority women, she said since its launch, more than 1.67 lakh women have been trained in 24 states with an amount of Rs 36 crore.

With the launch of the online application management system, beneficiaries can submit applications online while there would be online screening of application and online receipt of documents, minimising paper work.

The projects can also be approved online and report of the trained women, location of projects would be available in public domain.

The Minister said focus was being laid on the northeastern region with a sizable minority population, where new programmes would be launched.