Madrassas in Uttarakhand have been asked to register with the state education department within a month or face closure. According to the government, there are around 400 unregistered madrassas in the state. There are presently 419 madrassas registered with the Uttarakhand Madrassa Board, of which 192 receive grants from the Centre and the state administration.
“Madrassas have been served an ultimatum to register with the state education department within a month. If they fail to meet the deadline, steps will be taken to shut them. Not registering with the state education department is harming the future of the students who study there as they face problems in getting admissions after Class V,” Uttarakhand Social Welfare and Minority Welfare Minister Chandan Ram Dass said.
He also noted that registration was necessary for madrassas to avail benefits of the central and state government schemes.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had recently underlined the need to have madrassas surveyed, amid allegations that the grants given to them were not being appropriately utilised. State Waqf board chairman Shadab Shams also said he had a word with the chief minister regarding the issue and a committee will soon be set up to survey the madrassas.
According to him the board plans to introduce the state education board syllabus in madrassas and provide similar education to its students as children in private and government schools. CCTV cameras will also be installed in madrassas to ensure transparency in their activities.
