MUMBAI: In a move to woo the Muslims on the eve of the forthcoming Assembly polls scheduled to be held in October, and also to offer the Muslims some sops prior to the model code of conduct coming into force in a matter of days, the Congress-NCP led Democratic Front government in Maharashtra cleared a move to construct a Haj House for Muslim pilgrims proceeding on Haj in Aurangabad.
At a special Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday night in Mumbai, a proposal was accepted to construct a permanent Haj house and offer better amenities to the Haj pilgrims going to Makkah for the pilgrimage. The Haj house would be constructed by the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (Cidco), a state government undertaking costing INR40,000,000.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal to waive of a loan of INR180,000,000 along with interest dues that was given to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Financial Development Corporation. The waiver of loan and interest would benefit 3,984 Muslim families.
A decision was also taken to create a special post of survey commissioner for protection of Waqf properties. The commissioner would look into new surveys of all Waqf properties in Maharashtra. Also, all divisional commissioners in various divisions in the state would act as survey commissioners of Waqf properties.
These and other officials would carry out survey of 30,000 Waqf properties in the state and furnish a report to the government within six months.
Another major decision taken by the Cabinet was to set-up a separate women’s cell in the State Minorities Commission. Decision to appoint the women would be taken after the present tenure of the existing heads comes to an end. The Cabinet also took a decision to amend the State Minorities Commission constitution to accommodate the inclusion of women members.
