Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 30 Jun: The state government has initiated a scrutiny of the curriculum being followed in registered madrassas across the state, alongside an assessment of whether they are meeting the prescribed infrastructural standards for children’s education. Acting on directives issued under the administration of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has directed the officials to gather detailed information regarding the implementation of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) curriculum in approximately 450 registered madrassas.
Special Secretary in the Minority Affairs Department, Parag Madhukar Dhakate, has formally requested reports from the Madrassa Board and District Minority Officers regarding adherence to the NCERT framework and the availability of requisite facilities in these institutions. The scrutiny also encompasses verification of the number of students enrolled in these madrassas, along with information regarding their sources of funding.
It may be pertinent to remind here that serious allegations have emerged suggesting that certain land mafia operating within the Muslim community have been selling land on mere stamp papers to establish unregulated settlements in various districts of Uttarakhand. These actions are reportedly aimed at effecting demographic changes in the state, according to unverified claims that have sparked concern among sections of the administration.
Further compounding the matter, 218 madrassas were recently sealed across Uttarakhand on grounds of illegality. These institutions, according to officials, had neither registered with the Madrassa Board nor adhered to the national academic framework. They were sealed off in line with the ongoing enforcement campaign led by the state government. The officials claim that these madrassas were not linked to any formal educational authority and were operating in violation of regulatory norms.
The state has additionally sought updated records on Maktab madrassas as well as the registration status of Tehtania (primary level), Faukania (junior high school level), and Alia (high school level) madrassas. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to ensure accountability and quality in educational delivery across faith-based institutions.
Chairman of the Uttarakhand Madrassa Board, Shamoom Qasmi, affirmed that the state’s 450 registered madrassas are currently following the national curriculum. He stated that immediate disciplinary action is taken in cases where institutions are found violating these standards. Qasmi further disclosed that the board is in discussions with the Sanskrit Academy to formalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), under which select madrassas will also integrate Sanskrit into their curriculum.
Reiterating the government’s position, Parag Madhukar Dhakate has emphasised that the crackdown on unauthorised madrassas would continue in accordance with the directives issued by the CM. He also confirmed that a comprehensive verification exercise is underway to ensure that all registered madrassas are indeed implementing the national educational curriculum.
