Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh State Waqf Board on Monday distributed scholarships amounting to ₹21,60,000 to 289 orphan boys and girls selected across categories from kindergarten to Class 12 under the Waqf Shahjahani Yateem Scholarship Scheme for the year 2026-27.
Selection, funding source and presentation
The scholarships were presented in the form of cheques, mementos and certificates at a ceremony chaired by Dr. Sanwar Patel, who holds a rank equivalent to Cabinet Minister and heads the State Waqf Board. The funds for the awards came from the annual rent income derived from a portion of the Waqf Idara Yateemkhana Shahjahani in Bhopal, the board said.
Dr. Sanwar Patel explained that the ₹21,60,000 represents rent income from the specified Waqf property and that distribution was carried out on a merit basis after applicants were invited through two newspaper press releases.
Officials and presence
The event was attended by Bhopal Shahar Qazi Syed Mushtaq Ali Nadwi and other local dignitaries. The board said the scholarship drive is part of its education policy titled 'Read, Teach and Partner in Nation Building' aimed at encouraging educational progress among children under Waqf care.
Waqf administration and the new Act
In his address, Dr. Patel referred to administrative changes during his four-year tenure, noting positive outcomes since the implementation of the Waqf Act-2025. According to the Waqf Board, these developments include improved security of Waqf properties, measures to curb encroachments, clearer rules for leasing Waqf property and an increase in rent realisations in line with rent guidelines.
The board said these improvements have strengthened the resources available for public-welfare measures administered through its office of Auqaf Amma, Bhopal.
Other welfare schemes run under Auqaf Amma
- Widow pension
- Financial assistance to the poor
- Grants to mosques and madrasas
- Special gifts on the occasion of marriage of girls
Dr. Patel informed that there are about 4,000 tenancies under Auqaf-e-Amma. He emphasised that timely rent payments by these tenants could increase the board's capacity to expand welfare and educational assistance.
Programme data at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of beneficiaries | 289 orphan boys and girls |
| Classes covered | KG to Class 12 |
| Total amount disbursed | ₹21,60,000 |
| Scheme | Waqf Shahjahani Yateem Scholarship Scheme (2026-27) |
| Administrative authority | Madhya Pradesh State Waqf Board; Auqaf Amma, Bhopal |
Implementation and accountability points
The scholarship distribution, the board said, followed a merit-based selection after public advertisement. The reference to repeated press notices indicates an attempt at open application, while the reliance on rental income underlines how effective property management can expand welfare spending from Waqf resources.
Dr. Patel linked the uptick in resources to stricter management and policy changes after the Waqf Act-2025. The board highlighted that gains such as higher rent realisations and protection of Waqf assets could be channelled into welfare schemes if tenants maintain regular rent payments.
What beneficiaries and the public should note
Parents or guardians of eligible orphan children and other stakeholders are advised to watch for official press releases from the State Waqf Board and Auqaf Amma for application windows and documentary requirements. The board's stated practice of issuing two newspaper notices for the scholarship round indicates reliance on print media for outreach; interested parties who do not see such advertisements may approach the Auqaf Amma office in Bhopal for confirmation.
Regularisation of tenancy payments and transparent lease administration remain central to sustaining and expanding such interventions, the board maintained.
The award ceremony underlines the board's current emphasis on education as a key instrument of social upliftment among Waqf beneficiaries, as articulated in its policy theme.
Reporting from Bhopal; details supplied by the Madhya Pradesh State Waqf Board and the office of Auqaf Amma.
