DEHRADUN: Days after the Uttar Pradesh government began surveying madrassas in the state, Uttarakhand on Tuesday announced that it will also carry out a similar exercise. While UP is carrying out the survey only for unrecognized madrassas, the Uttarakhand administration said it would look into both registered and unregistered madrassas.
“We are getting to hear various things about madrassas at different locations. A detailed survey is extremely important to get a clear picture of such institutions (sic),” chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Tuesday.
Currently, 419 madrassas are registered with the Waqf Board. Of these, 103 belong to the board itself. The Waqf Board believes that there are over 400 unrecognised madrassas in Uttarakhand.
Through the survey, the state government aims to "collect information on education, activities and use of allotted funds in these institutions". Maulana Ifteqar Ahmed Qasmi, president of Madrassa Association of Uttarakhand, told TOI, "We are not against any kind of survey. However, if there’s a complaint against a madrassa or two, they should be investigated instead of putting all institutes in the dock. It’s like questioning the existence of all madrassas and their staff.”
He added: “Besides, if the government or the Waqf Board really wants to help us, they should meet our long-pending demand of giving equal status to certificates awarded by both madrassas and mainstream schools.”
Asked if there had been any complaint that necessitated the survey, Uttarakhand Waqf Board chairman Shadab Shams told TOI, “It’s not about complaints. Our neighbouring state, UP, is carrying out such a survey, and hence there’s nothing wrong in doing one in Uttarakhand as well. The survey will show us the actual situation (in the institutions) and we can act accordingly.”
Shams added, “At both registered and unregistered madrassas, we aim to carry out the survey in order to improve the quality of education. In addition to religious studies, we will ensure that mainstream school education is also imparted. We will find out their shortcomings, if any, and address those. We want to ensure that funds are used properly and students are benefiting from government schemes.”
