"Neglected" modernization of madrasas: Apex court issues notice to MHRD, 18 states

By Firoz Bakht Ahmed*
The Supreme Court bench of Justices Rohington Nariman and Abdul Nazeer, in a landmark order, on November 2, took serious note while hearing a petition by a madrasa teacher on not releasing the grant for the beleaguered madarasas registered under SPQEM (Special Project for Quality Education to Madrasas). The bench issued notices to the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the principal secretaries of 18 states, asking them to forthwith file replies in connection with defying the order of givings salaries to the madrasa teachers.
While arguing the case, Tibah Siddiqui (who had earlier secured the relief in the famous Qaumi School case of the Delhi High Court), stated that the madrasa modernization scheme was languishing and dying a natural death. What is lamented is the totally lackadaisical and unconcerned attitude of the government. Ms Siddiqui went on to term it as even unconstitutional, apathetic and illegal as no funds had been released for the last three years.
A committee was constituted under the chairpersonship of Professor Azra, also a consultant with the Sachar Committee that suggested that as per the Pay Commission scales, the madrasa teachers’ salary should be on par with the school teachers as theirs is a much heavier teaching schedule. While the school teachers are relieved in the afternoon, the madrasa teachers’ work is quite laborious and cumbersome; therefore, these madrasa pedagogues must be handed a handsome salary.

Advocate Tibah Siddiqu1

There are about 50,000 teachers employed in about 10,000 plus madrasas registered under SPQEM. A point to be noted is that the NITI Ayog is responsible to handover a grant of around Rs 720 crore to the madrasas. Recently, the amount was even increased; however, for the previous three years, nothing has been released.
In 2008-09, a special project for quality education of madrasas was introduced by the central government, providing for the employment of teachers in modern subjects like the sciences, mathematics, English and Hindi, in addition of their religious curriculum, Dars-e-Nizami which has Fiqueh (jurisprudence), Hadis, Ilm-ul-Kalam (metaphysics), Sarf-o-Nehv (grammar), Tafsir (interpretation), Hifz-ul-Quran (Quran memorizing), Khattati (calligraphy) etc.

The Central Government had introduced SPQEM for the disbursement of funds for the madrasas in 2009. Truth is that the poor madrasas, spread all over India, cater to a huge populace of Muslim community since these students can’t cater to what to talk of elite education but even normal government schools. Another reason why these Muslim students get left behind is that they hardly have any connection or resources to get admission or afford to study at public or English medium schools.
SPQEM, in its recommendations, had provided a salary of Rs 12,000 for postgraduate teachers and Rs 6,000 for graduate teachers. A sum of Rs 50,000 was assigned for the library while Rs 1 lakh was to be given for computers as one time grant. For TLMs (Teaching Learning Materials), Rs 15,000 were assigned. Unfortunately, for the last 3 years, nothing has been given to these underprivileged and deprived institutions of learning.

Firoz Bakht Ahmed

There are about 50,000 teachers employed in about 10,000 plus madrasas registered under SPQEM. Niti Ayog, the successor of the Planning Commission, is responsible to handover a grant of around Rs 720 crore to the madrasas. Recently, the amount was even increased; however, for the previous three years, nothing is released. It will be very sad if the madrasa modernization programme, is annihilated owing to the non-availability of funds.
According to social activist cum constitutional expert, Atyab Siddiqui, it was highly commendable on the part of the Supreme Court to have taken note of the madrasas’ pathetic educational facilities and the blatant neglect meted out to the poor institutions catering to poorest of the poor sections of Indian society. He added, “If the Muslims of India will remain educationally backward, the country cannot develop as well.”
---
*Chancellor, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad

Comments

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra* The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

The myth of population decline: India’s real challenge is density, not fertility

By N.S. Venkataraman* India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

How natural and organic farming can be a key to combating the climate crisis

By Raj Kumar Sinha* On July 9, while addressing the “Sahkar Samvad” in Ahmedabad with women and workers associated with cooperatives from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that natural farming is essential for both our health and the health of the soil. This is a significant statement in the context of addressing the climate change crisis. Natural farming can play a crucial role in combating climate change. Also known as organic farming, it is a system of agriculture that can increase food production without harming the environment. Natural farming has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 35% to 50%.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Search This Blog