By RINA
New Delhi: Issue of Imam’s salaries and their job has again come to the fore. While Imam contend that their current salaries is not enough to make the two ends meet, the Delhi Wakf Board says that Imams need to be more accountable and some corrupt practices need to be stopped.
All India Imam Organisation led by its president Jameel Ilyasi has threatened to knock the doors of Supreme Court if the Wakf Board does not heed to their demand.
Salary of the Imams was raised to Rs. 5000 per month, only last year. Till 2005, the salaries were only Rs. 2000 per month. Imams say that even the lowest paid government employee who works for eight hours a day earns at least Rs. 15,000 per month.
Till 1993 the salaries of the Imams of the Mosques were used to be Rs.300/=, Rs.500/= and Rs. 800/= per month respectively. All India Imam Organisation was formed in 1993 to fight for the rights of Imams of the mosques. The organization filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court demanding a salary increase and other facilities.
The Supreme Court directed the Wakf Board to pay a salary of Rs. 2000 per month from the beginning of 1993.
Meanwhile, meanwhile, Chairman of Delhi Wakf Board Chaudhry Mateen Ahmad has expressed his extreme displeasure over the attitude of All India Imam Organisation.
According to Chaudhary Mateen Ahmad when he was made the Chairman of the Wakf Board, the Imams used to get a salary of only Rs. 1000/= or Rs. 1200/= per month. Moreover, these salaries were not paid to them for period over eight months to one year. These Imams have to make innumerable rounds of the Wakf Board as well. But since his taking over as the Chairman of Wakf Board he raised the salaries of Imams first to Rs. 2000/=, then to Rs. 3000/= per month and now these Imams are getting a monthly salary of Rs. 5000/=.
As the Chairman of Wakf Board he gave Imams the ATM card so that they may not have to make rounds of the Wakf Board and can withdraw money from the banks with much ease.
Mateen Ahmad showed his dismay over the fact that in the case of increasing the salaries these Imams threaten to go to the Court of Law but at the same time refuse to obey the guidelines of the Board. Mateen Ahmad pointed out that if an Imam is transferred by the Wakf Board he is not willing to take up new assignment. He revealed that there are around thirty Imams who do not lead the prayers and there are some Imams who lead only the Juma prayers.
Expressing his utter disappointment at the attitude of the All India Imam Organisation Mateen Ahmad questioned that how can the salaries be increased of those Imam who do not discharge their duties fully and completely. He also disclosed that there are some Imams who appoint proxy Imams and pay them a few hundred of rupees while they themselves are busy elsewhere and top of it take full salaries.
Mateen Ahmad also pointed out that after the death of an Imam his son is recommended as a Muezzin or Naib Imam. He also said that free accommodation, power and water have been arranged for the Imams so they need not worry.
Link:
http://www.delhiwakfboard.org/