SRINAGAR: In a significant development, Chairperson, Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, has announced to hike the remuneration of Imams, Khateebs and Muazzins by 30%, who are performing their duties on shrines and mosques directly administered by J&K Waqf Board.
The decision in this regard was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Andrabi with the prominent Imams and Khateebs, in the conference hall of Waqf Board at Sonawar, Srinagar.
The chairperson Waqf Board also announced to provide adequate accommodation facilities to the Imams and Khateebs, who are currently posted at far off places.
Subsequently, Andrabi has also announced various other measures for the religious leaders. Among them are the provisions of relief assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh in case of natural calamity leading to house damage, disease/accidents requiring hospitalisation, library facilities for Imams and Khateebs, bearing of electricity and water bills of the religious leaders by J&K Waqf Board, frequent training programmes for the Imams and Khateebs by roping in renowned religious scholars, bringing to an end the past practice of removing the religious leaders merely on the complaint of locals, entitlement of the religious leaders to remuneration during the leave period, and constitution of a committee comprising two members from amongst the Imams and Khateebs to look into their issues of rationalization and transfers.
Further, the Imams and Khateebs were requested to organise Nazool-e-Quran conferences and other conferences on special occasions.
