Mangaluru, July 06: ‘Masjid One’, a major and innovative project aimed at building a network among all masjids in the country under one platform using technology to ensure the welfare of all Muslims, kicked off on pilot basis in Dakshina Kannada District.

For the effective implementation of the ‘Masjid One’, All India Muslim Development Board will be constituted in which, all noted personalities of the Muslim community including religious scholars, businessmen, politicians and heads of Muslim organisations of the country will be actively involved. The aim of the Masjid One is to ensure socio-economic and educational progress of the Muslim community. Promoters of Masjid One  have told Varthabharati that heads of thousands of masjids of the country came forward to join hands with the platform in the last two years and this has boosted the scheme.

Total 12 masjids including Kallega Juma Masjid of Puttur taluk, Masjid ul Bilal of Budoli, Masjid Birrul Walidain of Farangipete in Bantwala taluk, Masjid ul Huda of Thokkottu, Masjid ul Anas bin Malik of Bengare, Shabiul Rasad Juma Masjid of Ganjimutt Narlapadavu, Tauhid Masjid of Mulki, Salam Masjid of Bajal, Salafi Masjid of Kudroli, Salafi Centre Masjid of Kankanady, Badriya Juma Masjid Muslim Jama'at of Krishnapur, Mohiuddin Juma Masjid of Chokkabettu in Mangaluru taluk are bringing under the Masjid One. It was already discussed in the Jamaat management committee meeting.

Speaking to Varthabharati, All India Muslim Development Board coordinator Muhammad Imtiyaz said that efforts were being made to collect the data of all Muslims coming under masjid or jamaat. But before collecting the data, the people who entrusted the responsibility would be given training on how to collect the data. Two months time was given to collect the data. Later, a convention of selected representatives would be convened in Bengaluru in October and discuss on the future course of action, he said.

As per the available data, it would require around Rs 21 lakh crore for the overall socio-economic and educational development of Muslims of the country. This amount could be collected from within the community as investment and there was no need to depend on others for it. In order to apprise the investors in the community, it was inevitable to conduct survey of the community. Presently, 12 masjids were selected in Dakshina Kannada district for this programme, but in future, other masjids would also be included, he said.

For the effective management of the collected data and their updation, Technology platform is developed by INDIANITI Global solutions private Ltd., Bengaluru.While collecting the data, priority would be given to collect the name, age, education, profession and others of each person in a family. Along with this, efforts would also be made to reach around 80 government programmes to the needy through Masjid One. Already, Ulemas and social, political leaders have extended their support for this scheme. Even the Wakf Board also responded positively. This platform would be an effective tool to connect other jamaats and discuss issues between them. It was also planned to constitute four sub-committees in each jamaat to implement the programmes effectively, he exuded confidence.

Imtiyaz also appealed the presidents, secretaries, Khateebs and members of all 12 masjids selected in the first phase to give the information about the families.

It is a very good project. Everyone needs to support this. Every Jamaat committee should survey all the families in its limit and document it in the computer system and must see that these schemes reaches to the eligible people. Very importantly, the problems of families living in the limit of jamat should be solved in the jamat limit only. Then only the goal can be achieved. That requires guidance from community loving organisations.

-B.A. Shakoor Haji, President, Kallega Juma Masjid, Puttur

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Bareilly (UP), Nov 24: Three people died when their car fell into the Ramganga river from a partially constructed bridge here on Sunday, police said, adding that they suspect the driver was misled by its navigation system into taking the unsafe route.

The accident occurred around 10 am on the Khalpur-Dataganj road when the victims were travelling from Bareilly to Dataganj in the Badaun district, they said.

"Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the system," Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam said.

The driver was using a navigation system and did not realise that the bridge was unsafe, driving the car off the damaged section, the police said.

There were no safety barriers or warning signs on the approach to the damaged bridge, leading to the fatal accident, Shivam said.

Upon receiving information, police teams from Faridpur, Bareilly and Dataganj police station rushed to the spot. They recovered the vehicle and the bodies from the river, Shivam added.

The circle officer said that bodies had been sent for post-mortem. Further investigation into the matter is underway.