About the UMEED Portal
- UMEED stands for Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development.
- Initiative by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs.
- Aims to collate documents related to waqf properties for better management and transparency.
- Scheduled to go live imminently with a six-month window for uploading documents.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance )
Concerns from Telangana State Waqf Board (TGSWB)
- TGSWB is still awaiting clear guidelines on:
- What documents are required.
- Which formats or types will be accepted.
- Uncertainty over historical properties:
- Many Qutb Shahi-era mosques lack formal documentation.
- Board unsure how to handle such legacy cases on the portal.
Technical and Operational Concerns
- Portal to follow a three-tier approval system:
- Mutawalli uploads property documents (e.g., gazette notifications).
- TGSWB officer verifies submissions.
- CEO of TGSWB grants final approval.
- Previous online management system to be discontinued.
- No data migration from old portal to new one.
- Raises concerns over loss of existing digital records.
Legal and Procedural Issues
- TGSWB suggests Centre should have waited for the Supreme Court judgment related to Waqf property management before rollout.
- The premature launch could lead to confusion or legal inconsistencies in handling waqf property rights.
Steps Taken by TGSWB
- Actively collecting and updating documentation.
- CEO has reached out to government agencies for official property papers.
- Field staff deployed to obtain and verify waqf records.
Broader Implications
- Highlights the gap between central policy rollout and state-level preparedness.
- Risks of alienating religious institutions due to lack of consultation or clarity.
- Raises issues of digital transition in governance without adequate groundwork or coordination.
