India’s West Bengal state government has taken major action against unapproved madrasas. After an initial verification process, the state decided to shut down 252 unapproved madrasas.
Alongside this, another 100 madrasas have been issued show-cause notices. If they fail to give a satisfactory response within the stipulated time, strict action, including closure, could be taken against those institutions as well.
The decision followed a verification drive on the state of madrasas across Kolkata and various districts of West Bengal, led by the state government’s minority affairs and madrasa education department.
A survey of madrasas across all districts of the state was carried out on July 22. It examined institutions’ government approval status, infrastructure, teaching arrangements and various student data.
Information gathered by the department after the survey showed that around 2,396 madrasas in the state lack government approval. Several of these institutions are reportedly run as “khariji” madrasas. Questions have been raised over how these institutions are operating without government approval and what kind of education students there are receiving.
Based on the survey, the decision was made to shut down 252 madrasas in the first phase. Copies of the notices have been sent to district administrators in the relevant districts, who will take further action against these institutions.
Separately, various irregularities were found in the infrastructure and management of 100 madrasas. These institutions have been issued show-cause notices and asked to explain their documentation and approval status. If their responses are unsatisfactory, strict action, including closure, could follow.
The state government said the survey’s main purpose was to gather accurate data on how many approved and unapproved madrasas exist in West Bengal, while also verifying whether madrasas have the infrastructure students need.
Minority development minister Khudiram Tudu said that necessary documents had been collected from madrasas across Kolkata and 22 districts of the state. Madrasas with government approval that are operating in compliance with rules will remain open, he said, while action will be taken against unapproved institutions according to the rules.
The state government’s move has sparked fresh debate over the madrasa education system, particularly around what will happen to students at unapproved institutions. If the closure decision takes effect, how the continuity of those students’ education will be maintained has also become an important question.
The government, however, has said that alongside students’ interests, the legitimacy, infrastructure and rule-compliant operation of educational institutions must also be given importance. Attention now turns to whether further madrasas will face action in the next phase of the survey.