Kalaburagi: Karnataka Waqf Board’s plan to establish pre-university colleges for girls in 15 districts has been approved in the state cabinet meeting held here Tuesday. These colleges will be built on waqf properties in the respective districts; 47.76 crore rupees will be spent on their construction from the Waqf Board funds, stated Minister of State for Housing, Minority Welfare Cabinet and Endowments Zameer Ahmed Khan.
He said that the districts in which the Waqf Board has approved the construction of PU Colleges for girls are Bengaluru, Balakot, Chatur Durga, Bidar, Inderka Ballari, Koppal, Vijayanagar, Mysore, Chakbalapur, Ga and Jalad Kalbargi, Udupi, Vijayapur, Kolar, Davangere and Sal Dharwad. During the previous BJSP government, the hijab controversy had compelled a large number of Muslim girls to discontinue education. Taking note of this situation, the Waqf Board had then decided to start women’s colleges in various districts on its own lands.
The establishment of these colleges was approved in a meeting held to consider the affairs of Karnataka. Zameer Ahmad Khan said that now the foundation stone for the construction should be laid in the next 10-15 days, the construction of the colleges will start soon and from the next academic year education for girls will be provided in these colleges.
Educational institutions of this nature under the Board have not been established under direct administration so far. The Karnataka Board of Endowments is going to set up PU Colleges for the first time in the country, which is a historic initiative. Other Waqf Boards should follow suit. He said that apart from this, efforts will be made to establish 48 Morarji Desai minority settlements under the Minority Welfare Department in the Kalyan-Karnataka region.
The Cabinet has approved the funds of Rs.179 crore for the Kalyan-Karnataka Development Board to construct schools and build Maulana Abul Kalam Azad hostels. Funds will be provided by the Development Board till completion.
