MMU meet: Grand Mufti proposes Baitul Maal loans

Srinagar, Sep 15: Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam Tuesday floated the idea of providing micro loans through ‘Baitul Maal’ to help financially vulnerable people become self-reliant, while calling for a collective response to the growing social, economic and environmental challenges facing Kashmir. Addressing a one-day meet of Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), an amalgam of J&K’s Ulema in Srinagar, the Grand Mufti said community institutions and religious scholars had a major responsibility towards people in distress and should come forward to address issues affecting society. He said Baitul Maal could be utilised to provide small loans to needy people, enabling them to start small businesses and generate livelihoods instead of remaining dependent on charity. “Such institutions should be headed by Ulema who enjoy public faith and credibility,” he said. “The heads should be Ulema having public faith,” he said, emphasising that those entrusted with religious and social responsibilities must command the confidence of the people. The Grand Mufti expressed serious concern over the growing menace of drug abuse, particularly among young people, and called for urgent and coordinated efforts to tackle the problem. “We have more than 15 lakh youth involved in drugs, which is a very sensitive issue,” he said, stressing that the magnitude of the problem required families, religious institutions, medical professionals, civil society and the administration to work together. He said girls and young women in the age group of 13 to 30 years were also becoming vulnerable to drugs, making the issue particularly sensitive and requiring greater attention from families and community institutions. The Grand Mufti also referred to complaints concerning Darul Ulooms where girls are studying, calling for such concerns to be examined seriously and responsibly. “Institutions involved in the education of girls must ensure that students receive a safe and conducive environment for learning, while maintaining transparency and accountability in their functioning,” he said. He also turned his attention to Kashmir’s deteriorating environment, expressing concern over food adulteration and the worsening condition of the Valley’s lakes and water bodies. “Pollution and unchecked waste disposal were threatening the ecological health of Kashmir, with some of its water bodies increasingly turning into cesspools. He also raised concern over the depletion of water resources and urged people to recognise that protecting the environment was a collective responsibility. “What is our responsibility?” he asked, urging people to introspect and contribute towards protecting water bodies, lakes and other natural resources. He said the responsibility for protecting Kashmir’s environment could not rest with government agencies alone and called for greater participation from religious institutions, civil society and the general public. The Grand Mufti further appealed to the medical fraternity to facilitate people who are unable to arrange money for treatment. He said community institutions could play an important role in supporting such families and ensuring that lack of money did not leave vulnerable people without assistance. He called upon religious scholars, professionals and members of civil society to work together to strengthen social institutions and provide practical support to people in need.