The Muslim community and its civil society have welcomed the madrasa survey in Uttar Pradesh looking at it as the betterment of madrasas.
The Muslim community and its civil society have welcomed the madrasa survey in Uttar Pradesh where Darul Uloom Deoband has urged madrasas to cooperate with the government in investigation works
For the betterment of madrassas in Uttar Pradesh, Darul Uloom Deoband, the Center for Islamic Education, on Sunday called upon the madrasa operators to cooperate in the work of investigation of unrecognized madrassas by the Yogi government.
In an important meeting of Darul Uloom and madrasa operators in Deoband of Saharanpur district, all madrasa operators were asked to cooperate fully with the state government and administration in the investigation. They highlighted that if there is any deficiency or defect in the madrasas, it can be rectified as soon as possible in time.
All aspects related to the issue of investigation of madrassas were discussed in a meeting that lasted for two hours Sunday morning at Rashidiya Masjid in Darul Uloom.
It was discussed in the meeting that there is nothing objectionable in the survey of madrasas issued on the instructions of the Uttar Pradesh government. In the meeting, Sadar Mudarrish Maulana Arshad Madani and Mohtamim Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani shared their views on this issue.
Describing the role of madrasas in the freedom movement as important, Maulana Madani said madrassas have made a great contribution to the development of Islamic education in independent India.
It was decided in the meeting that the director of the madrasa should present all the necessary proofs of land ownership and building construction maps before the inquiry committee.
Make good arrangements for electricity, water, food, sanitation, environment, toilets, and furniture among others.
The director of the madrasa should do the work of giving all the information to the inquiry committee. Don’t hide anything and if there is any defect, give assurance to rectify it as soon as possible.
Uttar Pradesh started its controversial madrasa survey exercise on the 12th of September, with a three-member government committee visiting the Islamic religious schools and seeking information on 12 aspects, including their source of funding.
The information collected in the survey on the organization that runs the madrasa:
- The year in which it was set up;
- Whether it is operating from a privately owned or rented building;
- If the building is safe and has pure drinking water,
- Furniture and other facilities;
- The number of teachers, students, and staff;
- The curriculum; and
- Whether the students of these institutes were previously enrolled in some other institutes.
The government has said that while the objective of the exercise is to collect data to ensure that modern facilities can be provided to students, action will be taken against all those engaged in illegal activities.
The deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak said on the day of the start of the survey, “We want cooperation of all, the welfare of all. But at the same time, none involved in any illegal activity will be spared.”
By October 5, the survey teams are to submit reports to district administration officials who will then, by October 10-15, present them to district magistrates, who, in turn, will submit the reports to the state government by October 25, ending the 46-day exercise.
The surveyors say they will have security but do not foresee problems.
“Yes, we have security but the madrasa owners so far have been cooperative,” said Narendra Nath Pandey, the district minority welfare officer, Amethi.
Some madrasa teachers have welcomed the survey. We have nothing to hide. We want better facilities and hope we get that,” said Naved Nisar, a woman teacher at madrasa Taleem-Ul-Quran in Nagina, Bijnor.
Athar Siddiqui of the Centre for Objective Research and Development says, “If this move is to measure the quality of education of madrasas, then it’s a welcome move. Hopefully, in due course, other private schools and basic education government schools will also be subjected to such surveys and quality checks.”