Funding of Madrasas Stopped: Rights of Children Studying

Madrasas Funding: Priyank Kanoongo, Chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), has written a letter to the Chief Secretaries and Administrators of all states and union territories regarding the rights of children studying in madrasas across the country.

Priyank Kanoongo, Chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), has written a letter to the Chief Secretaries and Administrators of all states and union territories regarding the rights of children studying in madrasas across the country. In this letter, measures have been suggested to remove the conflict between the constitutional rights of madrasa students and their rights as children. Priyank Kanoongo has stated that NCPCR is a statutory body established under the Child Rights Protection Act 2005, with the main objective of protecting children’s rights in the country and monitoring related issues.

RTE Act 2009 Violations

The Commission has also been empowered to monitor the proper and effective implementation of the 2015 Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act and the 2009 Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act. The letter states that the “RTE Act, 2009” aims to achieve values such as equality, social justice, and democracy, but due to madrasas, a conflict has arisen between the fundamental rights of children and the rights of minority communities. Religious institutions have been exempted from the RTE Act, resulting in children studying only in religious institutions being left out of the formal education system.

NCPCR Report

NCPCR has prepared a report titled ‘Guardians of Faith or Oppressors of Rights: Constitutional Rights of Children versus Madrasas’. The report has 11 chapters, covering various aspects related to the history of madrasas and the violation of children’s education rights. The letter also states that merely forming a board or obtaining a UDISE code does not mean that madrasas are complying with the RTE Act. Therefore, it has been recommended that all states stop financial assistance to madrasas and shut them down. It has also been suggested that madrasa boards can be closed as they are not following the rules.

NCPCR Suggestions

Furthermore, it has been suggested that all non-Muslim children be removed from madrasas and enrolled in schools, while Muslim children, whether recognized or not, be enrolled in formal schools. The letter states that NCPCR’s report aims to provide children with a safe, healthy, and productive environment to grow. Its objective is to ensure that all children contribute effectively to the nation-building process. A copy of the report has been attached for the Chief Secretaries to take necessary action.