Shut down 13,000 illegal madarasas in the State

• Recommendation of Special Investigation Team constituted by Government of Uttar Pradesh
• Out of 23,000 madarasas in the State, only 5,000 madarasas are granted temporary permission
• Madrasas are receiving money from Gulf countries

Lucknow (UP) – A Special Investigation Team, acting on the directive of the State Government, has presented its findings to the administration regarding unauthorised madarasas. The report advises the closure of 13,000 such institutions. Many of these unregulated madarasas were discovered to be situated in proximity to the Nepal border. Investigations have unveiled that these establishments have sprung up over the past two decades, with funding originating from Gulf nations.

1. The information contained in this report reveals that among the 13,000 targeted madarasas for action, several are located across seven Districts including Bahraich, Shravasti, and Maharajganj. Remarkably, each border District hosts over 500 of these institutions. However, when pressed to account for their finances, the madarasas provided no satisfactory response. They remained silent regarding the identities of their donors, failing to provide any names.

2. The team suspects that these madarasas may have been built as part of a well-planned conspiracy and money raised for terrorist activities may have been sent through Hawala.

3. Disturbingly, it has come to light that children are being subjected to sexual abuse within these madarasas.

4. Additionally, it has been uncovered that students enrolled in these institutions face challenges in securing employment opportunities.

5. Of the 23,000 madarasas scrutinised by the Special Investigation Team, only 5,000 have been granted provisional authorisation. Some people in these madarasas seemed reluctant to comply with recognised standards.

Editorial Perspectives

• Did the Police and Administration turn a blind eye while so many illegal madarasas were operating in one State ? With such a number in one State, it is unimaginable how many illegal madarasas there might be in the entire country.
• To what extent has the Uttar Pradesh Government investigated, and why haven’t other States in the country done so yet ? Incidents of terrorism, Jihadi activities, and even cases of sexual abuse occur within madarasas, yet why haven’t they been investigated ?