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Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Compulsory Eng, Hindi, computer, science labs on Yogi govt's madrasa reform agenda
: Even as madrasa education remains a contentious issue in the state with the government continuing to keep a strict vigil on such institutions, the Yogi Adityanath government is all set to amend the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Act 2004, paving the way for compulsory introduction of Hindi and English as a language up to 10th level classes. The amendment will also ensure that all the affiliated madrasas will be duty bound to have a science and computer lab for the students. Total adoption of NCERT syllabus from Class 1 to 3 and SCERT syllabus from Class 4 to 8 will be a must. For the moment, Sanskrit has been kept out of madrasa education. Confirming the move, Uttar Pradesh minister of state for minority welfare Danish Azad Ansari said these proposals were discussed with chief minister Yogi Adityanath in a meeting recently. Soon, appropriate action will be taken, he said. A committee headed by the director of the minority welfare department has been formed. It will include special secretaries from the basic shiksha, madhyamik shiksha, finance and legal departments. Ansari also said: 'Now, NCERT and SCERT courses will be implemented in all madrasas affiliated to the UP Madrasa Board. From Class 1 to 3, NCERT syllabus will be implemented. The SCERT syllabus will be implemented from Class 4 to 8. A science and computer laboratory will also be required for getting affiliation from the UP-Madrasa Board.' As per the suggested reforms, Hindi and English will be made compulsory in 10th level classes of the UP Madrasa Board, the minister said. Till now, these subjects were optional. In 12th level classes, the madrasa students will also be taught farming and they will also be given knowledge of commerce. Sports-physical education will also be made compulsory for Class 12th level students in madrasas in the state. As per the proposal, the norms for a madrasa to get affiliation from the madrasa board will require madrasas to have a minimum of five rooms for the primary level, eight rooms for junior level. Above grade nine level, the number of classrooms will depend on the requirement. Madrasas will have to ensure drinking water facility along with a library, wash room and proper furniture. A proper structuring of the UP Madrasa Board is also on the cards to deal with the load of handling institutes. Staffing norms will be decided soon, while teacher training programme for the already recruited teachers will also be started to equip them with modern techniques. All the marksheets of UP Madrasa Board will be digitised for transparency, convenience and for an easy verification process. Samajwadi Party spokesperson Abdul Hafiz Gandhi said, 'It's good to introduce subjects like English, Hindi and computer education in madrasas. This move will help madrasa students gain modern skills and prepare them for broader educational and employment opportunities. However, it is equally important that such reforms do not interfere with the autonomy of madrasas in imparting religious education. As per Article 30 of the Indian Constitution, minority institutions have the right to establish and administer their own educational institutions. The curriculum and methods for religious instruction must remain under the purview of the madrasas themselves.' According to a rough estimate, there are currently 13,329 recognized madrasas in the state, where 12,35,400 students are studying. Out of these, 9,979 madrasas are at the primary and upper primary levels (Class 1 to 8), and 3,350 are at the secondary and higher secondary levels (Class 9 to 12).
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
U.P. govt announces new State Haj Committee
The minority welfare department of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday announced the formation of the new State Haj Committee. The new committee will consist of 13 members, including the minister of state for minority welfare, Muslim Waqf and Haj Danish Azad Ansari, and Shia Central Waqf Board chairman Ali Zaidi. As per a notice issued by principal secretary (minority welfare) Samyukta Samadwar, the term of office for the nominated members will be three years. The new State Haj Committee will also include Wali Mohammad, chairman of Municipal Council, Gopamau, Hardoi; Nadeemul Hasan, chairman of Municipal Council, Dhaura Tanda, Bareilly; Syed Ali Warsi, Muslim theologian and legal expert; Hafiz Ejaz Ahmed (Shahin Ansari), Muslim theologian and law expert; Syed Kalbe Hussain (Kabban Nawab), Muslim theologian and law expert (Shia community); Muhammad Iftekhar Hussain, social worker; Kamran Khan, social worker; Junaid Ahmed Ansari, social worker; Javed Qamar Khan, social worker; and Kamruddin (Jugnu), social worker. Speaking after his nomination to the committee, Ansari said, 'I am thankful to our leadership for giving me this opportunity. I feel it's a chance for all committee members to work tirelessly for the uplift of the community. I am sure we will deliver on the expectations of our leaders.' Though the chairman of the new State Haj Committee has not been formally announced yet, sources in the minority welfare department indicate that Ansari is most likely to be appointed for the role.
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India-Nepal border: U.P. starts action against unrecognised madrasas
The Uttar Pradesh government has started action against unrecognised madrasas, mosques and allegedly illegal structures constructed on government land in districts along the India-Nepal border. The district administration razed illegal structures to reclaim government land while the unrecognised madrasas have been closed. The drive was launched in border districts, including Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri, Balarampur, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar and Maharajganj, on April 25. Making a strong push for reforms in Uttar Pradesh's madrasa education system, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on April 25 had highlighted the need for strict compliance with infrastructural standards before granting official recognition to any madrasa in the state. He had also proposed forming a committee to recommend necessary reforms for the smooth functioning of madrasas, job security for teachers, and a better future for the students. In November 2024, the Supreme Court directed the state governments that no demolition should be carried out without a prior 15-day notice to the owner of a property and without following the statutory guidelines. A state government officer said a drive has been launched to free the 0-10 km area along the India-Nepal border from encroachment and operation of unrecognized madarsas. The 700-km border passes through seven U.P. districts -- Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Balrampur, Shravasti, Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri and Pilibhit. Citizens of both the countries move freely across the open India-Nepal border. The security in the border areas is monitored by Sashashtra Seema Bal (SSB) and district police, he said. 'The state government has made it clear that illegal occupation and unrecognised religious or educational institutions within a 10-km of the Nepal border will not be tolerated. The administration has been directed to remove identified encroachments promptly and ensure continuous monitoring in the area. The administration has implemented the court order while carrying out a demolition drive against illegal structures,' he said. The campaign reflects the government's commitment to securing the India-Nepal border and curbing unauthorised activities, the officer said. The operation is backed by comprehensive checks and notices, aiming to reclaim government land and ensure compliance with legal standards for religious institutions, the officer said. The drive will continue until all illegal encroachments and unrecognised setups are addressed, he said. Minister of state for minority welfare, Muslim waqf and Haj Danish Azad Ansari said, 'The Yogi government is working fully to ensure that the youth of our country get a good education. Madrasa is an extremely important institution for the education of poor Muslims. We can provide a good education system there and we can develop modern education along with Islam. Our government is working on this. There are certain standards of education. We continuously order that our respective madrasas should follow these standards. If anyone does not follow these standards, then we will definitely take appropriate action against him.' BAHRAICH In Bahraich, district minority welfare officer Sanjay Mishra said three madrasas in the 0-10 km zone of the India-Nepal border were shut down due to lack of recognition papers and land ownership documents. Chief revenue officer Devendra Pal Singh said two district-level teams removed 89 illegal encroachments in Nanpara, demolishing temporary structures on government land. Some encroachers voluntarily dismantled their setups while others without alternative housing have been temporarily spared, with plans to relocate them through leases. The anti-encroachment teams were led by the SDM, police circle officer and revenue personnel. Additional superintendent of police (ASP-Rural) Durga Prasad Tiwari confirmed that adequate security forces were deployed to ensure smooth operations. Additional district magistrate (ADM) Gaurav Ranjan stated that the campaign was overseen by chief revenue officer Devendra Pal Singh following directives from district magistrate Monica Rani. Of the 495 unrecognized madrasas identified in Bahraich, action is prioritised for those near the border, with further measures planned for the rest. SHRAVASTI Twenty-six unrecognized madrasas were sealed in Shravasti. Twelve of them were in Jamunaha tehsil, SDM SK Rai said while SDM Bhinga Ashish Bhardwaj disclosed that 14 were in Bhinga. These institutions lacked recognition papers and land ownership documents, with some operating on government land, officials said. Rai stated that the minority welfare department has identified 80 unrecognized madrasas in Jamunaha, all of which are under scrutiny. While no structures have been demolished yet, action is being proposed against madrasas on government land, alongside their closure. LAKHIMPUR KHERI The administrative and police officials in Lakhimpur Kheri district's Pallia tehsil razed an incomplete structure of the mosque on Sunday. The step came after the authorities took a strong note of a fresh attempt by the local 'masjid' committee to erect a mosque on government land in Krishnanagar Colony in Sampurnanagar area close to the India-Nepal border. Pallia subdivisional magistrate Ratnakar Mishra said, 'On receiving a complaint about attempts to construct the mosque again, the site was inspected and the walls of the mosque which had been erected were razed to the ground.' 'Even in 2023, attempts were made to encroach on government land by constructing a mosque. However, the administration had stopped the work and removed the construction,' he said. He said no fresh notice to remove the illegal structure was required as a notice had been already served in 2023, asking the committee to avoid construction on the public land. MAHARAJGANJ AND SIDDHARTHNAGAR The authorities in Maharajganj and Siddharthnagar districts demolished two mazars (mausoleums) and a mosque in the Shohratgarh tehsil of Siddharthnagar. Demolition actions were also undertaken at an Eidgah and another mazar in Jhulnipur village of Maharajganj on Monday. Over the past two days, a total of 30 religious structures, including madrasas, mosques, and mazars, have been identified for removal. Of these, 19 are located in Maharajganj district and 11 in Siddharthnagar, with six specifically in the Shohratgarh tehsil. Superintendent of police, Maharajganj, Somendra Meena confirmed that inspections were carried out in Jhulnipur and Nichlaul areas. He stated that police are on high alert and regular patrolling is being conducted to maintain peace. Maharajganj district magistrate Anunay Jha said, 'After yhr state government directives, a survey of madrasas within a 10–15 km radius of the India-Nepal border is underway.' However, he declined to share further details. Additional district magistrate, Siddharthnagar, Gaurav Srivastava said SDMs and basic education officers are actively surveying madrasas. He said the institutions that were unable to produce valid ownership documents would face demolition.
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Business Standard
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
UP govt takes action against illegal encroachments along India-Nepal border
The Uttar Pradesh government has recently carried out an encroachment removal campaign in several districts along the India-Nepal border in the state, taking action against more than 250 illegal constructions, as per an official statement. According to the statement, the drive targeted unauthorised constructions and religious institutions and focused on areas within a 10-15 km radius of the border. Action was taken against 89 illegal encroachers in Bahraich and 119 illegal constructions in Shravasti. Additionally, 17 unauthorised madrasas were identified and addressed in the process. In Siddharthnagar district, 11 illegal structures were removed, while in Maharajganj, action was taken against 19 encroachments. Meanwhile, in Balrampur, seven encroachments on government land were identified; two were removed voluntarily, and action is ongoing against the remaining five, the government said. Earlier this month, Uttar Pradesh Minister of state for minority welfare, Muslim Waqf and Haj Danish Azad Ansari stressed the need to end alleged land encroachment, noting that the Waqf Amendment Bill was the need of the hour. Earlier in January, Uttar Pradesh Police launched an anti-encroachment drive to remove illegal settlements on the land belonging to the Army in the Vijaynagar area in Ghaziabad. DCP City Rajesh Kumar Singh said the anti-encroachment drive will continue until all illegal settlements are removed from the area. "In the Vijaynagar area, many people have encroached upon the land which belongs to the Army. We received a letter from the officials (of the Army) to remove the encroachment, and hence we began the anti-encroachment drive - it will continue till all the illegal settlements are removed from the area...," Singh told ANI. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh police, along with the administration, demolished an illegal construction belonging to a notorious criminal in the limits of the Hathgaon police station area in Fatehpur in March. According to officials, the construction was made "illegally" on government land. Fatehpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Dhawal Jaiswal said that the illegal construction belonged to a criminal who has more than 12 cases registered against him. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
