Dehradun, Sep 23 The Waqf Board in Uttarakhand is set to provide free housing to women rendered homeless after triple talaq and nikah halala.
According to sources, the matter has been discussed with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami who has given his approval to the Waqf Board’s proposal.
Shadab Shams, Chairman of the Uttarakhand Waqf Board, told PTI that a proposal has been drafted to provide shelter to destitute divorced women who were thrown out of their homes after being given triple talaq (instant divorce) and to women who are forced to undergo nikah halala to avoid homelessness.
Nikah halala deals with the process in which a Muslim woman, who wants to re-marry her husband after divorce, has to first marry another person and get a divorce from him after the consummation
“Women have the first right to Waqf Board properties. We are going to table a proposal in the upcoming Waqf Board meeting to provide housing to homeless women who are victims of triple talaq and halala.”
The proposal would be passed in the board meeting scheduled for the end of this month or the beginning of the next, he said.
Shams noted that Muslim women are often denied a share in their parents’ property, or their parents are unable to help due to weak financial standing and the ‘mehar’ (dower) amount agreed upon at the time of marriage is usually very meagre.
He said, “During the nikah (marriage), a nominal amount of Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 is often fixed as ‘mehar’. At the time of divorce, the husband simply pays this amount and leaves the woman. What can a woman do with Rs 5,000? Especially when she has children to care for.”
He added that in such situations, the woman may get help from her maternal family but she may still lack a place to live.
Shams stated that in many instances, to avoid homelessness, victims of triple talaq are coerced into undergoing ‘halala’. He noted that cases have also come to light where, despite the divorce, victims are forced to continue living in the same house at the mercy of their ex-husbands.
“In view of this, the Waqf Board has formulated a proposal,” he said. “Those who have nowhere to live need not endure such oppression anymore. The Waqf Board will stand by these victims.”
After the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), this initiative would offer further support to Muslim women in the state, the Waqf Board Chairman added.
Shams explained that since the Waqf Board possesses a land bank, it can collaborate with government agencies or private developers to provide homes to the affected women.
(PTI News)
