Search the Internet          Tips

Centre asks states to monitor madrassas

While seeking to dispel apprehension that the National Democratic Alliance government was opposed to the madrassa system, he said there was a need for "greater surveillance" on such institutions, particularly in border areas as some of them had "come under cloud".

Stating that the Centre was keen on modernising madrassas by introducing science, mathematics, computer sciences and other subjects, Rao appealed to Muslim leaders to "avail benefits" being offered by the human resources development ministry.

Since administrative control of madrassas rested with the state governments, it was their duty to regularise these institutions, he said. "Unless states have a close vigilance, it will be difficult for the Centre to know about the activities [of madrassas] and how funds are being utilised," he added.

The minister also assured all necessary steps to "safeguard the ethos and traditions of Indian Muslims and their institutions".

Of the total 31,857 madrassas in the country, as many as 11,553 were being run in border states, including 3,823 in the states bordering Pakistan, he added.

The minister replied in the negative when asked whether there was any move to introduce a law giving powers to the Centre to control the madrassas.

The Centre was, however, contemplating amendments to the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act for a more effective monitoring of the way the funds were being utilised, he said, adding, foreign funds worth over Rs 4,000 crore [Rs 40 billion] were received by various religious institutions in the country last year.

On Pakistani nationals overstaying in India, Rao said the state governments had been asked to intensify efforts to identify and deport them.

It was found that out of 11,213 Pakistani nationals overstaying in the country about 2,300 were untraceable.

"Though not all of them are dangerous, it is the duty of the state governments to track them down," he added.

Tell us what you think of this report