– Mohammed Atherulla Shariff
Bengaluru: A three-day training programme for Masajid’s management heads and Imams was inaugurated at Karnataka Haj Bhavan here yesterday. It intends to provide general awareness about various government schemes and create a Masjid-centric development approach among the attendees.
State Waqf and Minority Affairs Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan stated that simply due to lack of knowledge deserving people are unable to avail of the benefits meant for them. If local Masjid authorities and Imams shoulder the responsibility of guiding the general public within their jurisdiction, a lot of change can take place. And moreover, people will be more connected with the Masjid and community heads. He emphasised having a database of local population in each Masjid which will act as a mirror to see the true condition of the mohalla.
The five guarantee schemes currently under practice can be connected to deserving people pinpointedly, he said. In this regard, the efforts of Masjid One movement and other organisations were appreciated by him. Zameer Ahmed also mentioned the allocation of funds for minorities in the current year budget amounting to Rs.3150 crore of which Rs.1950 crore is meant for education alone.
Minister for Haj Rahim Khan, MLA Asif Sait, MLCs, Naseer Ahmed, Abdul Jabbar and Bilqees Banu and City Jamia Masjid Imam Moulana Maqsood Imran addressed the inaugural session.
Mutawallis and Imams of three Masajid from each Taluqa have been invited for the first programme and others will be followed in due course of time, it was told.
