Rs 100 crore for modernisation of madrasas was announced by Union budget and announced a decision to launch a special programme for the upgrdation of skills of minorities in traditional arts and crafts.
“An additional amount of Rs 100 crore for modernisation of madrasas has been provided to the department of school education,” finance minister Arun Jaitley said in his budget speech.
BJP, in its poll manifesto had promised to introduce a national madrasa modernisation programme.
The Rs. 100 crore for the modernisation of madrasas has failed to exite and bring mixed response from ulemas in the city. Several of them think it will lead to unnecessary interference in the functioning of seminaries.
“While aid is welcome, there should not be any meddling in religious teachings,” said Mufti Mastan Ali of Jamaiatul Banaat, Moghalpura.
Abid Rasool Khan, A.P. Minorities Commission chairman, welcomed the move and said modernisation of madrasas was the need of the hour. Although the allocation of Rs. 100 crore is very meagre.
“For its flagship programme, the BJP government ought to have announced a minimum of Rs. 1,000 crore,” Mr. Khan said.
“The money announced will barely be sufficient,” he said as there are about 8,000 madrasas in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh wherein nearly one lakh students are studying.
Khaled Saifullah Rahmani, general secretary, A.P. Madrasa Board, said there was no need for government financial support as madrasas were getting modernised themselves. In its place, the government should think of providing financial support Urdu-medium schools which are in a bad shape.