Minority school status to all faiths in Uttarakhand; govt proposes legislation to scrap Madarsa board

Dehradun: In a major step toward inclusive education, the Uttarakhand government has decided to introduce a new law that will allow schools run by non-Muslim minority communities to be officially recognized as minority institutions.

This means that schools run by Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis will now be eligible for the same benefits that were earlier given only to Muslim-run madrasas.

New law will replace the Madrasa education board

The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The new law, called the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Act, will replace the old Madrasa Education Board Act of 2016. The bill is expected to be presented in the state assembly session in Gairsain.

Madrasa board governed over 450 madrasas across the state

For many years, only Muslim educational institutions were recognized under the Madarsa Education Board. This board governed over 450 madrasas across the state. However, the government now wants to create a single system that includes all religious minority schools. This will help improve transparency and ensure that students from all communities receive quality education.

A senior government official said, "This is a landmark decision. It will help schools run by different minority groups get proper recognition and support. We want to make sure that every child, no matter their religion, gets access to good education.”

Special authority will be set up to manage

Under the new law, a special authority will be set up to manage and monitor all minority educational institutions. This will be the first time any Indian state has created such a unified system. The authority will make sure that schools follow proper rules and maintain educational standards.

All madrasas and other minority schools will come under the new authority

The Madarsa Education Board will stop working by July 1, 2026. After that, all madrasas and other minority schools will come under the new authority. The government also plans to cancel the old rules related to Arabic and Persian madrasas. These rules will be considered invalid from July 1, 2016.

Need for a better system to manage minority schools

The move comes after the Dhami government took action against many madrasas that were found to be operating without proper registration. Officials said that this showed the need for a better system to manage minority schools. While the government says the new law will help all communities, the opposition has criticized it. Congress spokesperson Ashish Nautiyal said, "This is just a political stunt before elections. The BJP is trying to create tension between Hindus and Muslims.”

Chairman of the Uttarakhand Madarsa Board, welcomed the decision

However, not everyone agrees with this view. Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, Chairman of the Uttarakhand Madarsa Board, welcomed the decision. He said, "This will help children get better education and become part of the mainstream. Congress only played appeasement politics. This new law is a step toward real development.”

Many parents and teachers are hopeful

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Education experts believe that the new law could help improve the quality of education in minority schools. It may also encourage more communities to open schools and contribute to society. Many parents and teachers are hopeful that the new law will bring positive changes. A teacher from a Christian school in Dehradun said, "We have been running our school for years, but never got any official support. If this law is passed, it will be a big help for us.”

The government says that the new system will be fair and open. Schools will have to follow clear rules to get recognition. This will prevent misuse and ensure that only genuine institutions get support. The bill is expected to be discussed in the assembly soon. If passed, it will become a model for other states to follow.