West Bengal govt launches statewide survey of madrasas, seeks reports by July 5

KOLKATA: The West Bengal government has launched a statewide survey of madrasas, seeking comprehensive details on their functioning, infrastructure, and legal status, an official said on Saturday.All district magistrates have been directed to submit detailed reports by July 5.Officials said the survey would also help the government verify whether all institutions are operating in accordance with existing rules and possess the necessary documentation.The development came a month after the BJP came to power in the state, ending the TMC’s 15-year rule.According to a notification issued by the Department of Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education on June 5, district administrations have been directed to collect data on the location of madrasas, their year of establishment, registration details, availability of valid documents, and the number of students, teachers, and non-teaching staff.The reports will also have to specify whether the institutions are residential, privately aided, or unaided, and provide details of the courses offered.A senior official at the state secretariat said the exercise was aimed at creating an updated database to facilitate future planning in the madrasa education sector."The objective is administrative in nature. The government wants a comprehensive picture of madrasa education in the state so that future policies, student welfare measures and maintenance-related decisions can be taken on the basis of verified information," the official told PTI.The notification stated that the information would be used to review educational facilities, plan developmental initiatives, and improve institutional management across the sector."The district-wise reports will help us identify gaps, if any, in records and regulatory compliance. Appropriate decisions will be taken on the basis of the findings once the exercise is completed," the official said.Sources in the administration indicated that any irregularities or unauthorised activities detected during the review would be examined separately, although there is no proposal to change the existing academic framework or curriculum followed by madrasas.The move comes amid a series of policy initiatives undertaken by the state government in the education sector since the change of guard in West Bengal.Incidentally, the BJP government has recently made the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ during morning prayers mandatory in madrasas, along with other educational institutions across the state.(With agency inputs)