Waqf grant not increased; more than 5000 applicants wait for financial help

MALAPPURAM: The Waqf Board welfare pension was raised from Rs.350 to Rs.1000 five years ago by the state government. But the government did not increase the grant in the budget, which has made it impossible for the board to give financial help for marriages and medical treatment. More than 5000 persons are waiting for the board’s help.

Rs.8 crores are needed to pay the financial help and pension arrears.

Pension is for about 800 employees above sixty years who have registered with the Waqf Board. Till 2016, the government used to give grants of Rs.1.20 crores for benefits including pensions. At that time, the amount to be paid as pension was Rs.35 lakhs. The rest of the amount was used for the marriages of poor girls to the tune of Rs.10,000. For cancer treatment, dialysis, and major surgery Rs.15,000 was given.

After the amount of the pension was increased, Rs.96 lakhs were needed to pay the total pension. The government only raised the grant by Rs.12 lakhs only. The majority of that amount is needed to pay the pension. It is difficult to give other financial aid on time. After protests rose, financial aid was given without paying the pensions. Because of this pension for ten months was not given.

3423 applications were received for financial aid for marriage from January 2018 to July 2022. Out of this 2813 applications passed the board’s sanction committee but the amount is still not paid. An amount of Rs.3 crores is needed for this.

Another Rs.3 crores are needed to pay for the medical treatment financial aid of 2300 applicants since March 2018. The officials of the board are saying that if the government gives Rs.8 crores, all the arrears can be cleared.