Opinion | UMEED for Waqf: Voices from Kashmir on the Long-Awaited Reform

As a woman, I find it crucial to highlight how the bill empowers women. It mandates that before a family donates property to Waqf, women must receive their rightful inheritance. Special provisions also ensure support for widows, divorced women, and orphans—a progressive step often overlooked in the heated debates around this reform. This bill is not about taking away rights but about restoring accountability and fairness.

Having spent my entire life in Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region, I feel compelled to share my thoughts on the Waqf Amendment Bill. As an activist, I also feel the need to engage my fellow Kashmiris in this discussion—making this not just an article but a public response. I mention Kashmir here because the Waqf Board has always been a subject of debate in the valley. The town I come from has a bustling market, where roughly 20-25% of the shops are Waqf-owned. So far, this may seem like a straightforward fact, but what raises serious concerns for me is how these properties are managed. Take this example: a Waqf-owned shop is rented to a butcher who earns lakhs in profit every month but still pays only ₹120 as rent, an amount fixed in 1995. If this is the level of financial mismanagement at the smallest scale, one can only imagine the extent of irregularities at higher levels. In Jammu & Kashmir alone, there are reportedly 1,753 Waqf properties, yet not a single one has undergone a GPS survey. I could have filled this space with data and figures, but instead, I felt compelled to talk to fellow Kashmiris. Their insights and firsthand accounts will follow in the coming paragraphs.
Babar Magray, a Social Media Influencer
The Waqf Amendment Bill is a long-overdue reform that will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to the management of Waqf properties. For decades, these properties have been mismanaged, with little oversight and rampant financial irregularities. This bill is a step towards ensuring that Waqf assets serve their true purpose, which is to help the community, rather than benefiting a select few. Take the example of Jammu and Kashmir, where Waqf properties are vast, yet their management has remained opaque. With no proper audits, no GPS surveys, and outdated rent structures, these assets have been turned into a personal fiefdom for a few influential individuals. The proposed amendments empower authorities to streamline the administration, prevent corruption, and make Waqf properties more accessible for public welfare. Critics argue that the bill is an overreach, but in reality, it simply introduces the much-needed checks and balances. It does not infringe on religious rights; rather, it ensures that Waqf assets are used as intended that is for the benefit of the community at large. The bill also makes way for a more inclusive structure by allowing non-Muslim members and Muslim women in Waqf management, which is a progressive step toward inclusivity. This is not an attack on Waqf; it is a lifeline for it. Those opposing the bill must ask themselves: Are they against transparency? Are they against reforming a system that has, for years, failed the very people it was meant to serve? The government’s initiative should be welcomed, as it ensures that Waqf properties truly benefit the needy rather than being controlled by a handful of elites.
Firdous Beigh, a Conscious and Conscientious Citizen
As a person from South Kashmir, a region with one of the highest concentrations of Waqf properties and shrines, I am dazed to see the sheer mismanagement of these assets. Despite the vast revenue generated from donations and rentals, we still rely on crowdfunding for cancer patients, our shrines remain in disrepair, and not a single charitable hospital, pathology lab, or public institution has been built by the Waqf Board for the community’s larger welfare. This raises serious questions about where the funds are going. Consider this: India has 8.72 lakh Waqf properties covering 37.39 lakh acres. In J&K alone, there are 1,753 registered properties, yet not even a single one has undergone a GPS survey for accountability. More shockingly, revenue from Waqf properties across India has plummeted from ₹166.65 crore in 2019-20 to just ₹9.92 lakh in 2024-25. This is a staggering decline that exposes the financial mismanagement. Experts estimate that with proper regulation, Waqf properties could generate ₹12,000 crore annually, enough to fund hospitals, scholarships, and social welfare programs for the marginalized. Yet, despite controlling such vast assets, can anyone name a single ambulance donated by Waqf? Can anyone name a single student fully sponsored by Waqf till higher education? The reality is that Waqf, instead of serving the needy, has become a goldmine for a handful of powerful individuals. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is the only way to break this cycle of corruption. By introducing a centralized digital portal, geotagging of properties, and an overhaul of the leasing system, it will ensure that Waqf assets benefit the community instead of filling private pockets. Some argue this is an interference in religious affairs, but I see it as a long-overdue reform to protect what rightfully belongs to the people. This bill is not an attack on Waqf rather it is a lifeline to revive its lost purpose. Those opposing it must answer: Are they afraid of transparency? Or do they simply want the status quo of corruption and embezzlement to continue?
Sheikh Muskaan, an Activist and a Writer
I remember when the Triple Talaq Bill was introduced, opposition leaders painted it as an attack on Muslims, but ask any Muslim woman today, and she will proudly say it was in her favour. The same misleading narrative is now being spun around the Waqf Amendment Bill, with politicians using religion to safeguard their vote banks. But the truth is far from it. Waqf is India’s third-largest landowner after the Armed Forces and Indian Railways, controlling 8.7 lakh properties across 9.4 lakh acres—valued at over ₹1.2 lakh crore. There are 8,72,328 immovable and 16,713 movable properties under Waqf, with 3,56,051 registered Waqf estates. The real concern isn’t about preserving Waqf but about ensuring whether these properties rightfully belong to Waqf or were arbitrarily claimed under Section 40 of the 1995 Waqf Act. The new bill removes this ambiguity, requiring proper documentation to prevent unjust claims and misuse. As a woman, I find it crucial to highlight how the bill empowers women. It mandates that before a family donates property to Waqf, women must receive their rightful inheritance. Special provisions also ensure support for widows, divorced women, and orphans—a progressive step often overlooked in the heated debates around this reform. This bill is not about taking away rights but about restoring accountability and fairness.
Mir Lubna, Student Activist, and LLB student
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 has been renamed the United Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Act—and the name truly reflects its purpose. UMEED means hope, and for the first time, we are witnessing real accountability in Waqf management. Take Jammu & Kashmir’s Waqf Board, which has been under the leadership of Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi for the past few years. The impact is undeniable. From 2010 to 2018, Waqf’s annual revenue never crossed ₹25 crore—but in 2023-24 alone, it soared to ₹40.24 crore. That’s not a coincidence; it’s the result of strong leadership and financial discipline. Dr. Andrabi, the first woman to lead J&K Waqf, exposed how Waqf properties were mismanaged and looted for decades. In her November 30, 2020 interview with Kashmir Images, she openly spoke about the corruption that crippled Waqf’s true potential. This bill is not about government control; it’s about community upliftment. Waqf’s primary role is not just to maintain shrines but also to fund education, healthcare, and welfare programs. For too long, these assets have been wasted—this reform ensures they benefit the people who truly need them. With digitization, proper leasing policies, and transparency, UMEED is indeed a hopeful step towards efficiency and empowerment. Anyone opposing this bill isn’t fighting for Waqf—they’re fighting to protect a broken system that has long failed the community.

Firdous Bhat, Renowned Activist and Writer
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is a much-needed reform aimed at bringing transparency and efficiency to the management of Waqf properties. Critics who label this initiative as divisive overlook the substantial efforts by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to empower Waqf institutions. A prime example is the Waqf Sampatti Vikas Yojana, under which the Modi-led NDA government has allocated an estimated ₹1,400 crore for the period 2021-2026 to develop Waqf properties for community benefit. Despite Waqf Boards controlling approximately 8.7 lakh properties spanning 9.4 lakh acres across India, there is a glaring lack of data on loans or financial assistance provided to the common people. This raises questions about the utilization of Waqf assets and underscores the need for reform. Er. Rashid has been a staunch critic of the BJP and its policies, particularly on issues concerning Kashmir. His strong stance against the abrogation of Article 370 and other central government decisions is well known. However, his recent criticism of Waqf regulations in Parliament suggests that even those who traditionally oppose the BJP recognize the deep-rooted issues within Waqf management. This makes his statement even more significant that if someone like Er. Rashid, who has consistently opposed BJP policies, is questioning Waqf’s functioning, it indicates that the problem is real and beyond political affiliations. Public sentiment strongly favours this amendment. A survey conducted across 388 districts revealed that 91% of respondents support the government’s move to amend the Waqf Act, advocating for more transparent operations of Waqf Boards. Additionally, 96% of citizens surveyed want Waqf Boards to register all properties with district collectors, ensuring greater accountability and oversight. Furthermore, 93% of respondents believe that property disputes should be resolved through the regular judicial system which are district courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court, rather than specialized Waqf tribunals. This reflects a widespread desire for a more impartial and standardized legal process. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is not an attack on any community; rather, it is a step towards ensuring that Waqf properties serve their intended purpose of benefiting the community. By promoting transparency, accountability, and efficient management, this bill aims to transform Waqf assets into engines of community development, providing tangible benefits to those they are meant to serve.
As I compiled these responses, one thing became evident—there is a growing realization within the community that the Waqf Amendment Bill, now rebranded as the United Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act (UMEED), is indeed a long-overdue reform. From activists to writers, from South Kashmir to Baramulla, voices from diverse backgrounds agree that Waqf, meant to be a pillar of socio-economic upliftment, has instead suffered from mismanagement and opacity. Despite the political noise, the core question remains: Should Waqf continue to be a stagnant institution, or should it be transformed into a vehicle of progress? The voices in favour of reform are growing, and if this bill delivers on its promises, it could finally turn Waqf into what it was always meant to be, a source of hope, or as its new name suggests, UMEED.
The responses have been gathered by Israar Shahid, a student activist, and a columnist. He can be reached at soulofkashmir1@gmail.com