Delhi : The Markazi Majlis e Shura (Central Advisory Council) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind approved its four-year plan yesterday. The Jamaat sets its plan and priorities at the beginning of its four-year term and then proceeds accordingly.
In the new four-year plan, utmost importance has been given to bringing about a positive change in the public opinion of the country. Misunderstandings regarding Islam and Islamic teachings should be removed. The salient features of the teachings of Islam are that they are not for any particular sect or community, but for the well-being of all human beings, their worldly welfare, their salvation in the Hereafter, and delivering justice and fairness to all. Jamaat wants to spell this out before the people of our country.

In Jamaat’s four-year plan, great importance has been given to improving the relations between the various 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 level of states and units. Forums for dialogue and discussion will be promoted at various levels.

Platforms will be created among intellectuals, religious leaders, common people, civil society, youth, and women, through which different religious groups will be brought closer to each other. An atmosphere of working together will be fostered for achieving welfare and justice for all.

Jamaat has also decided that regular campaigns will be conducted against the common vices found in the country such as casteism, bigotry, violation of girls and women’s rights, feticide, dowry, drugs, corruption, etc.

The Islamic perspective will be clarified regarding the environmental crisis, and different types of special measures will be taken in different cities to solve environmental challenges.

Reforms within the Muslim community have also been given special importance in the program of Jamaat. Awareness will be imparted to the community. Efforts will be made to persuade them to follow Islam and to become the embodiment of Islam. Special focus will be given to those aspects of Islam to which the reformist movements have not paid much attention. For example, marriage should be easy, the ritual of dowry should be abolished, women should be given a share in inheritance, women’s rights should be paid, honesty in trade and financial matters should be implemented, cleanliness be observed, and good behavior towards Muslim and non-Muslim neighbors must be practiced – such Islamic teachings will be emphasized and efforts will be made to harmonize the attitude of Muslims in their daily lives with the teachings of Islam.

Jamaat has decided that special attention will be given to education. The education system should be inclusive and free from the 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, there will be a continuous effort to draw the attention of the government for these purposes. The various branches of Jamaat will also try their best to work on these priorities. Jamaat will try to increase the ratio of educated among Muslims and other backward groups. The literacy rate and GER should increase and their educational problems should be solved. The establishment of new educational institutions in various regions of the country is also an important part of this plan.

An important component of the new plan is the economic empowerment of the Muslim community and other backward groups and also improvement in various other domains. Another critical portion of the plan is to make efforts for institutionalizing microfinance as a movement and providing interest-free loans to help the poor financially and become self-reliant. It has also been decided that along with the various works of social service that the Jamaat is doing, this time special efforts will be made in the field of public health and the healthcare industry. Special cells will be set up in all major cities to provide timely guidance for medical treatment and to protect people from being financially exploited when they seek that treatment.

The government, trustees, and people will be made aware of their responsibilities regarding the recovery, development, and proper utilization of Waqf (endowment) properties. Special cells will be established for this too.

One of the main goals of the efforts of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind will be to work together with all the justice-loving people and classes of the country to establish peace and justice in the country. A struggle against discrimination, fear and terror should be such that our society is freed from evils like all kinds of cruelty, injustice, sedition, corruption, and hatred.

These are some of the highlights of Jamaat’s new plan. We hope that we will continue to have your broad support in these activities as always.