ABSTRACT
This has covers a variety of aspects related to successful community initiatives on waqf lands in India. It starts with presenting the legacy of waqf in India, the problems resulting in poor utilization and their immense potential. The key players and their roles in awqaf development in Indian context are laid out. An overall review of successful cases of waqf development in India in the areas of healthcare, education, orphanages, commercial complexes and mosques is made. Three specific areas having opportunities for waqf utilization are identified, along with the reasons and benefits of the same. Based on the understanding of the various initiatives studied, critical success factors for a successful waqf are analyzed and presented. An analysis of the key characteristics of the various initiatives studied and the best practices leads to the abstraction of four models of waqf development, which are presented and compared. Finally, the way forward for better utilization of awqaf in the Indian context is presented, with specific recommendations made to the various players.
