Moazzans & Imams demand honorarium in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Even as the State government increased the honorarium being paid to Imam and Moazzans of Masjids to Rs 5,000 from Rs 1,500 per month, scores of honorees can be seen knocking on the doors of Wakf Board office each day. Let alone Rs 5000 honorarium, some of them have not received the pending arrears of at least 11 months and running from pillar to post. In the month of August, the State government has announced hike in the honorarium from Rs 1500 to Rs 5000, but Imams and Moazzans are seen attempting to reach out to the officials with their grievances of pending bills. “In the beginning for about two months I received the amount, but since then I did not received the promised amount and arrears are yet to be cleared,” said Mohammed Alam, Imam of Masjid e Bandeshah in Phisalbanda.

While speaking to The Hans India the Imam said when he complained in the Telangana State Wakf board about not receiving of honorarium for 11 months and approached the officials, he was asked to make correction of Account details in the application. However after fulfilling the formalities he was able to get two months honorarium (month of October and November), but the problem continued for last two months. “As I could not get for nine months at a stretch, I approached in the month November. Even though I got for October and November, the problem continued and 11 months of arrears remain pending. I am running from pillar to post and unable to focus on my prayers”, he said.

Activists are up in arms over the issue and pointed out that there were many Imam and Moazzans who did not receive their honorarium on time and many of them have pending arrears for more than 10 months.  Officials continue to show some or the other reason behind not receiving salary like correction in Account number in application. Even after fulfilling the formalities many times they are not receiving their salaries. “The Wakf board chairman during each of the press conference eulogizes the Chief Minister for increasing the honorarium of Imams and Moazzans, but the ground reality is totally different, as scores of honorees are yet to receive their due. I demand probe into this, as where the sanctioned amount is landing,” Mohammed Kaleemuddin, Vice president Awaaz committee. 

BY Mohd Minhajuddin Khan