Rajasthan
Waqf: Mini mall model on Waqf land a success as it promotes entrepreneurship, inspires hope | Jaipur News
Rashida Begum, a mother of three, supports her family by running a readymade Kota Doria garments shop named after Malika-uz-Zamani Begum, the wife of an erstwhile Nawab of Tonk. Having come from a traditional Muslim family, she considers running a business and attaining economic independence major milestones in her life. In fact, all the 22 shops in the mini mall in Tonk, which houses Rashida’s shop, are run exclusively by and for women.
The mini mall, which has acquired the name ‘Ladies Katla’ in the city, stands on Rajasthan WaqfBoard’s land.It was built in 2013 under the Rajasthan Muslim Waqf Regulation Act to give Muslim women an opportunity to make a living. Since its beginning, the mini mall has seen over 100 women running their businesses in it before moving out for bigger scope elsewhere.
“The atmosphere here is in tune with my cultural sensibilities of pardah. This market is an established name now as women from places like Chabbra, Niwai and the entire Tonk district come to shop here,” said Rashida Begum.
Then CM Vasundhara Raje wanted this model to be replicated in all 33 districts, but the idea never took off. “In 2016-17, Raje liked the Rajasthan Waqf Board’s idea of creating a marketplace for women. The proposal was discussed in the board, but nothing happened. The Congress government has been reminded of this idea at least 100 times in the last five years, but it never responded,” said Mohammed Ahmed alias Bhaiyyu, a former president of Tonk District Waqf Committee.
Naaz Khan, who runs a shop called Naaz Collection at the mini mall, recalled that her family business suffered massive losses during the Covid pandemic in 2020-21. “I asked my husband to look for a shop in the city. He was disappointed to find most shops too expensive for us. As some shops got vacated at this mini mall, I grabbed the opportunity, and my business is going well here. Such a setup should be opened in other cities. Women from orthodox families can also excel in business,” said Khan.
The rent of the shops at the mini mall remains much less than the market rates, and the rents go to Rajasthan Waqf Board.
“Since Waqf land is available in abundance in every district of Rajasthan, it can be utilised to help Muslim women become entrepreneurs,” said Ahmed.
The mini mall, which has acquired the name ‘Ladies Katla’ in the city, stands on Rajasthan WaqfBoard’s land.It was built in 2013 under the Rajasthan Muslim Waqf Regulation Act to give Muslim women an opportunity to make a living. Since its beginning, the mini mall has seen over 100 women running their businesses in it before moving out for bigger scope elsewhere.
“The atmosphere here is in tune with my cultural sensibilities of pardah. This market is an established name now as women from places like Chabbra, Niwai and the entire Tonk district come to shop here,” said Rashida Begum.
Then CM Vasundhara Raje wanted this model to be replicated in all 33 districts, but the idea never took off. “In 2016-17, Raje liked the Rajasthan Waqf Board’s idea of creating a marketplace for women. The proposal was discussed in the board, but nothing happened. The Congress government has been reminded of this idea at least 100 times in the last five years, but it never responded,” said Mohammed Ahmed alias Bhaiyyu, a former president of Tonk District Waqf Committee.
Naaz Khan, who runs a shop called Naaz Collection at the mini mall, recalled that her family business suffered massive losses during the Covid pandemic in 2020-21. “I asked my husband to look for a shop in the city. He was disappointed to find most shops too expensive for us. As some shops got vacated at this mini mall, I grabbed the opportunity, and my business is going well here. Such a setup should be opened in other cities. Women from orthodox families can also excel in business,” said Khan.
The rent of the shops at the mini mall remains much less than the market rates, and the rents go to Rajasthan Waqf Board.
“Since Waqf land is available in abundance in every district of Rajasthan, it can be utilised to help Muslim women become entrepreneurs,” said Ahmed.
