BS News Agency: The Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department has taken major steps against unauthorized and infrastructure-less madrasas in the state. After a survey across the state, 252 madrasas have been given closure notices. Along with this, about 100 more madrasas have been arraigned. If a satisfactory response is not received, action will be taken against those institutions as well, said the department's minister Khudiram Tudu. The minister said that the 252 madrasas that received closure notices do not have even the minimum infrastructure. The institutions that received arraignments will have to explain their position. If the response is not satisfactory, action will be taken against them too. He said that the government's goal is to provide modern and mainstream education to madrasa students like students of other schools and move them forward in the future. According to the state administration, the survey found that 2,132 madrasas are running with the necessary approvals. On the other hand, about 2,396 madrasas are running without the necessary government or board registration/affiliation. The survey focused specifically on Khariji madrasas.
Detailed information about madrasas in 22 districts of the state and the Kolkata area was collected through the district administration. The registration of the institution, management system, number and identity of students, number of teachers, infrastructure and source of funds were all examined. After receiving the administrative report, special inspection and investigation teams were also sent from the state level to verify the information. Whether the information given by the concerned madrasas matches the actual situation or not is verified on the spot. The problems raised in the survey include lack of sufficient classrooms, low number of students and teachers, major deviations from the state's prescribed school curriculum and non-compliance with administrative rules. According to administration sources, action has been taken against several institutions due to these reasons.
District-wise, the highest number of closure notices have been issued against madrasas in Malda. About 44-45. Next is Uttar Dinajpur, where there are about 37 madrasas. About 32 in South 24 Parganas and about 25 each in Murshidabad and Nadia have been taken against madrasas. According to the administration's statement, Khariji madrasas are independent Islamic educational institutions that are run without government funding, formal recognition or government control. These institutions usually depend on public donations or trust funds. An official from Nabanna claims that allegations of teaching 'anti-India' teachings and 'brainwashing' students in several Khariji madrasas have also come to the attention of the administration. That is why this survey and verification process was started, he claims. However, in case of such serious allegations, action will be taken on the basis of evidence and according to the law, the state government has said.
Administrative sources also said that this verification and action process against madrasas will continue in the coming days. The Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department has said that evidence-based and legal action will be taken against unauthorized or non-compliant institutions.