In a significant update on the digitization of religious endowments, the Telangana Waqf Board has disclosed that data for a massive number of properties is now primed for official entry on the central Umeed portal. This move marks a crucial phase in the ongoing mission to formally document and protect these community assets.
A Milestone in Data Preparation
Speaking on Sunday, the chairman of the Telangana Waqf Board, Syed Azmatullah Husseini, provided detailed figures on the progress. He stated that over 46,000 waqf properties have reached the 'maker' level on the Umeed portal. This stage indicates that the preliminary data is ready and awaiting action by officials or staff to begin inputting comprehensive property details.
Out of this vast pool, a substantial portion, more than 33,500 properties, are those that have been officially Gazette-notified. This notification is a critical legal step that formally recognizes a property as a waqf asset under the law, giving the disclosure added significance.
Progress Through Verification Stages
Husseini further broke down the progress beyond the initial data preparation stage. He confirmed that the verification process is underway, with over 10,000 properties having advanced to the 'checker' level for review. From these, a batch of 4,000 properties has successfully moved forward, receiving formal approval.
The chairman hailed this collective effort as a milestone in the broader, ongoing mission to systematically safeguard and create a definitive record of waqf assets across the state. The digitization on a central portal like Umeed is expected to bring transparency and streamline management.
Deadline Missed, Extension Sought
However, the announcement came with an acknowledgment of pending work. Husseini highlighted that a considerable number of properties remain stuck at the 'checker' and 'approver' levels, awaiting final clearance. This backlog has become pressing as the official deadline for uploading properties onto the Umeed portal expired at midnight on Saturday, December 6.
In response to this challenge, the Waqf Board is taking legal steps to secure more time. The board is filing a suit before the waqf tribunal seeking an extension to complete the remaining entries. This action underscores the complexity and scale of the task of documenting thousands of historical and legally nuanced properties within a fixed timeframe.
The developments signal both substantial progress and the practical hurdles faced in modernizing the administration of waqf properties in Telangana, with Hyderabad being a major focal point given its historical significance.
