A.P. Waqf Board plans to support poor Muslims through P4 initiative

Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board is putting all its efforts to implement the P4 (Public Private People Partnership) initiative to provide security and support to the poor Muslim families in the State. A.P. Waqf Board Chairman Abdul Azeez announced this while speaking at the fourth State-level meeting at Command Control Room of the Nellore Municipal Corporation (NMC) office on Saturday.

The P-4 is a poverty alleviation programme launched by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on March 30. According to the initiative, rich and affluent people who come forward to uplift the poor as ‘Margadarsi’ (guides) would support the beneficiary families called as ‘Bangaru Kutumbam’ (golden family).

Addressing the media after the meeting, Mr. Abdul Azeez said that the Waqf Board is exploring the ways to generate income from its properties across the State, while protecting them from alienation. Particularly, a Rent Review Committee will be formed at the State level to review the rents of 1,300 shops directly managed by the board in various areas, he informed.

He alleged that the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government had not only stalled the development works of the Waqf Board, but also not submitted the utilisation certificate for ₹386-crore funds sanctioned by the Union government. So, the Centre has not sanctioned any new funds. “The Chief Minister spoke about this issue with the Centre, and worked to resolve the problem soon,” he added.

The Waqf Board chief informed that criminal cases will be filed against the ‘Mutawallis’ (trustees) who sold out the Waqf lands in the State. He further said that an application was received from the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) to set up an MSME park at Mallayapalem in Guntur district, and the land will be leased on a long-term basis without changing the title and ownership.