In a significant development in Azamgarh, 110 madrasa managers are facing charges of cheating and fraud after an inquiry revealed that 219 madrasas, purportedly affiliated with the UP Board of Madrasa Education, were non-existent at their listed addresses. This investigation, led by the UP Police’s Economic Offence Wing, came on the heels of a government directive to scrutinize these institutions. Among the implicated madrasas, 39 had illicitly procured government funds, reportedly as honorariums for teachers under the madrasa modernization scheme.
The investigation found that details about 313 madrasas on the Madrasa Portal were suspicious, with many operating on paper only, likely to siphon off government funds. Police have filed FIRs across several police stations, including Phoolpur, Jiyanpur, Didarganj, and Ahiraula, under multiple sections of the IPC, including those related to cheating and forgery.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Chirag Jain indicated that 219 FIRs are to be registered, with more to follow. Interestingly, the District Minority Welfare Officer only provided financial details for 2014-15 and 2015-16, during which non-existent madrasas received over Rs 62 lakh, though the full extent of the embezzlement remains unclear.
Under the Madrasa Modernization Scheme, graduate and postgraduate teachers in the state’s madrasas were supposed to receive honorariums as an addition to their salaries. However, since allegations of irregular salary disbursals surfaced in 2016, teachers have intermittently received these payments, and the state stopped these extra funds last January. This revelation highlights the inefficiencies within the system and the challenges faced in regulating and modernizing religious educational institutions. The investigation continues, aiming to clamp down on misuse of funds and ensure accountability within the madrasa education system.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/police-carry-out-madrasa-verification-drive-find-219-in-azamgarh-only-on-paper-book-110-people-9841671/
Category : Cities,Lucknow
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-02-18 06:06:00
