Never called for closure of madrassas, Muslim children should get formal education: NCPCR
New Delhi, Oct 16: NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said he never called for the closure of madrassas but recommended state funding to these institutions be stopped as they are depriving poor Muslim children of education.
He said that Muslim children from improverished backgrounds are often pressured into religious schooling over secular education. We advocate for equitable educational opportunities for all children.
In a recent report, the apex child rights body, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) raised serious concerns about the state of functioning in madrassas and called for stopping the state funding unless they comply with the Right to Education Act.
The report received sharp reaction from political leaders, including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav who blamed the ruling BJP for selectively targeting minority institutions. Kerala's Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) said it was the latest display of the communal agenda by the Union government and its agencies.
However, Kanoongo clarified that he never called for the closure of the madrassas.
"We never advocated for the closure of madrasas. Our stance is that while affluent families invest in religious and regular education, even children from impoverished backgrounds should be imparted that," he stated, emphasising the need for equitable educational opportunities for all children regardless of socioeconomic status. Responding to the functioning of the madrassas, Kanoongo criticised certain groups within the country for "fearing" the empowerment of the poor Muslim community.
"There exists a faction in our nation that dreads the empowerment of Muslims. Their fear stems from the anticipation that empowered communities will demand accountability and equal rights," he told PTI in an interview.
This, he suggested, is a primary reason behind the resistance to inclusive educational reforms.
Highlighting the government's responsibility, Kanoongo asserted, "It is the duty of the government to ensure that children receive normal education. The state cannot turn a blind eye to its obligations."
He pointed out that impoverished Muslim children are often pressured into religious schooling over secular education, undermining their prospects.
"Why do we constrain our poorest Muslim children to attend madrassas instead of schools? This policy shifts the burden unfairly onto them," Kanoongo remarked.
Reflecting on the historical policies, Kanoongo recalled the post-1950 constitutional mandate for universal education. "After the Constitution was implemented in 1950, Maulana Azad (India's first Education minister) visited madrassas in Uttar Pradesh and declared that Muslim children did not need to pursue higher education in schools and colleges. This led to a significant underrepresentation of Muslim students in higher education, currently hovering around five per cent," he noted.
In contrast, he highlighted the participation rates of other marginalized communities, suggesting that systemic biases have hindered Muslim students' academic achievements.
"Look at this situation: around 13 to 14 per cent of students in higher education are from Scheduled Castes (SC), and over 5 per cent are from Scheduled Tribes (ST). Combined, SC and ST students make up 20 per cent of the higher education population, while Other Backward Classes (OBC) account for 37 per cent while Muslims in higher education just remain 5 per cent," he said.
Kanoongo also criticised the past education ministers from the Muslim community, labelling them as "white elephants of misdeeds" for their roles in perpetuating educational disparities.
"These ministers stood in madrassas and discouraged Muslim children from pursuing regular education, effectively depriving them of their fundamental right to education," he said.
Going ahead, Kanoongo stressed the importance of integrating madrassa students into mainstream schools.
"We have recommended mapping unmapped madrassas and enrolling children into schools. While some states like Kerala have resisted, others like Gujarat have taken proactive steps. In Gujarat alone, over 50,000 children have been enrolled in schools despite facing violent opposition," he explained.
He remained optimistic and said, "In the next decade or so, these Muslim children will become doctors, engineers, and bankers, and they will validate our efforts."
Kanoongo highlighted the broader implications of empowering Muslim communities.
"Empowering Muslims means they will demand their rightful place in society, ensuring accountability and equality," he affirmed.
When asked about allegations that NCPCR is more vocal towards non BJP ruled states, he said "What happens is that whether you talk to Mamata ji, go to Karnataka and speak with Priyank Kharge or Siddaramaiah, or speak to Tamil Nadu’s Stalin government, they put allegations on us to hide their own wrongdoings, accusing us of political vendetta. You should read our reports. The difference is that if I speak with good intentions to BJP-ruled states, they accept our recommendations in good faith".
Kanoongo finishes two terms as NCPCR chairperson on Wednesday.
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Ramdas Athawale backs Fadnavis as Maharashtra CM; says Shinde can shift to Centre
New Delhi, Nov 26: RPI(A) leader Ramdas Athawale, a key BJP ally, on Tuesday called for a quick decision on the next chief minister of Maharashtra and suggested that incumbent Eknath Shinde should shift to the Centre as a Union minister.
Addressing a press conference here, Athawale also backed senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister of Maharashtra, contending that the saffron party won the maximum number of seats in the 288-member Assembly and should have the right to the top executive post in the state.
He said a peculiar situation has arisen in Maharashtra where BJP leaders want Fadnavis as the chief minister, while Shiv Sena leaders want Shinde to continue in the post, citing the good work he has done over the last two and a half years.
Athawale, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, said NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has declared that he was not in the race for the chief minister.
"We need to resolve this matter, without any further delay. The election results were announced on November 23 and we should have had the oath of the new chief minister on November 26, the Constitution Day," Athawale said.
Backing Fadnavis for the post of chief minister, Athawale said Shinde can become the deputy chief minister or shift to the Centre and join the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Athawale said his RPI(A) has a presence in every part of the state, but unfortunately lost the two seats -- Dharavi and Kalina -- offered to it in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections.
He demanded that an RPI member be made an MLC and a minister in the state government.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections winning 235 seats in the 288-member House. The BJP won 132 seats, followed by Shinde-led Shiv Sena (57) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP (41). Smaller parties, who are part of the alliance, won five seats.
