Uttarakhand: Get registered or face closure, madrassas told

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government has given what it termed a "final warning" to the madrassas in the Himalayan state to register themselves with the education department or be ready to face closure.


Social welfare and minority welfare minister Chandan Ram Das told TOI on Tuesday that madrassas had been asked to comply with norms but many did not come forward. "Now, we have acted firm and given a final ultimatum of one month to register with the education department. If they don't comply, we'll get the waqf board land measured and those unregistered would be forcibly shut down," said the minister.

At present, 419 madrassas are registered with the state madarsa board and 192 are receiving grants from the Centre and state. Officials said there are roughly 400 more "unregistered" madrassas.

"We are not against any group or individual. We do not want students to be deprived of proper education or required facilities. If they register with the education department, there can be a proper schooling system and they can avail the benefits of state and Union government schemes. Therefore, by not registering, those running such madrassas are indirectly harming the students' future," the minister said, adding, "The problem for students of unregistered madrassas is that after clearing class V, they face problems in getting admission to the next class."

The waqf board meanwhile is all set to start a survey of madrassas. Uttarakhand Waqf Board chairman Shadab Shams said, "We recently had a word with the CM regarding the survey. A committee will be announced soon."

He added that through the survey, the state government aims to "collect information on education, activities and use of allotted funds in these institutions".