After elections of President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and its Markazi Majlis-e-Shoora (Central Advisory Council) and appointments of other team leaders, the Jamaat’s Shoora approved of the Policy and Programme for the 4-year term (April 2023-March 2027) during its recent session concluded on June 13. These plans will be implemented by the team leaders at the Central, Zonal and Local levels under the guidance of National President Syed Sadatullah Husaini.
While unveiling the focus areas of the 4-year programmes at a press conference held at the JIH headquarters in the national capital on June 14, Jamaat’s Ameer Syed Sadatullah Husaini said, “The prime focus of the programmes is to effect positive changes in the public opinion so that misconceptions and prejudiced attitudes towards Muslims, Islam and its teachingscan be removed. The main features of the teachings of Islam are that they are not for any particular sect or community, but for the good of all human beings, their worldly welfare, their salvation in the Hereafter, and providing justice and fairness to all.”
According to Jamaat President, great importance has been given to improving relations between different religious communities of the country. An atmosphere of dialogue and discussion should be created and hatred should come to an end. For this, various activities and campaigns will be carried out at the national level as well as at the levels of states and units.
He added, “Forums will be promoted for dialogue and discussion at various levels. A platform will be created between intellectuals, religious leaders, common people, civil society, youth and women, through which different religious groups will be brought closer to each other. An environment will be created to work together to achieve welfare and justice for all.”
“The Islamic approach to the environmental crisis will be explained and a variety of specific measures will be taken in different cities to address environmental challenges. Reforms within the Muslim community have also been given special importance in the programme of the Jamaat. Society will be made aware. Efforts will be made to persuade them to follow Islam and become a symbol of Islam,” he said.
“Special attention will be given to those aspects of Islam which have not been given much attention by the reformist movements. For example, marriage should be easy, the practice of dowry should be abolished, women should be given a share in inheritance, rights of women should be paid, honesty should be enforced in business and financial matters, cleanliness should be followed and good behaviour towards Muslim and non-Muslim neighbours should be practised – such Islamic teachings would be emphasised and efforts would be made to harmonise the attitudes of Muslims in their daily lives with the teachings of Islam,” he opined.
The JIH President emphasised that special attention will be paid to education. The education system should be inclusive and free from dominance of a particular culture. The education system should be based on moral values and education should be common and easily accessible to all citizens. These are the three main priorities of the Jamaat regarding education. Accordingly, a sustained effort will be made to draw the attention of the Government to these objectives.
He added, “Various branches of Jamaat will also try their best to work on these priorities. The Jamaat will try to increase the proportion of educated among Muslims and other backward groups. The literacy rate and Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) should be increased and their educational problems should be addressed. Establishment of new educational institutions in different regions of the country is also an important part of this plan.
“An important component of the new plan is also the economic empowerment of the Muslim community and other backward groups and reforms in various sectors. Another important part of the plan is to try to institutionalise microfinance as a movement and provide interest-free loans to the poor to help them financially and become self-reliant.”
On the health sector, he said, “It has also been decided that along with the various activities of social service being done by the Jamaat, this time special efforts will be made in the field of public health and healthcare industry. Special cells will be set up in all major cities to provide timely guidance for medical treatment and to protect people from economic exploitation in search of the treatment. The government, the trustees and the people will be made aware of their responsibilities with regard to the recovery, development and proper use of Waqf (endowment) properties. Special forums will also be set up for this.”
Jamaat president also stressed on the need to work together with all justice-loving people and sections of the country in order to establish peace and justice in the country and to struggle against discrimination, fear and terror to make the society free from evils like all kinds of cruelty, injustice, sedition, corruption, and hatred.
Earlier, Professor Salim Engineer, Vice President of Jamaat, introduced the newly elected vice-presidents and secretaries, including two women secretaries.