Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Government has sought financial assistance of Rs 62.4 million from Centre for modernisation of madrasas (Islamic schools).

"A Rs 62.4 million proposal has been sent to the Centre for modernisation of madrasas run by Wakaf Board. We want to develop madrasas into centre of theology and scientific knowledge by providing them teaching and infrastructural facilities," Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was told during a meeting of the board.

Sayeed called for better management of Wakaf resources and said 100 hectares of orchards belonging to the board in different parts of the valley should be brought under cultivation and medicinal plants should also be grown in the 350 hectares of Wakaf forest land at Baba Rishi, Tangmarg.

The Chief Minister also chaired the meeting of Wakaf Council. The newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Masud Choudary gave an overview of the proposed plan for the university.

The meeting decided that the university would start its courses in management studies and information technology from the coming academic session next year.