Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Sep 24: The West Bengal government has taken an in-principle decision to close around 250 government-recognised private madrasas after December, citing very low student enrolment and inadequate infrastructure.
The decision was taken by the state Cabinet on Wednesday. Officials said the affected institutions would be allowed to continue classes until December so that the students currently enrolled there do not face an abrupt disruption. Administrative action for closure will be initiated after the academic session concludes.
The decision is part of a wider review of the functioning, infrastructure and approval status of madrasas across West Bengal. The Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department has already initiated action against several institutions following a state-wide survey.
According to officials, most of the 250 madrasas identified for phased closure have very few students or negligible enrolment and lack adequate infrastructure. Reports from the concerned institutions are expected before the Durga Puja festivities and will form part of the administrative process.
The latest decision is separate from the action taken earlier this month against 252 unauthorised madrasas. The government ordered their closure after a field-level survey found several institutions operating without the required approvals and basic infrastructure.
The survey was conducted across districts from early June to examine infrastructure, approval status and management systems. The government subsequently issued closure notices to 252 institutions and show-cause notices to around 100 others.
Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Minister Kshudiram Tudu said madrasas with the required approvals would be allowed to continue functioning. The government is examining responses from institutions served show-cause notices before deciding on further action.
Officials have also indicated that nearly 2,500 unregistered madrasas operating across West Bengal could face phased closure in the future. The review covers institutions with low enrolment, infrastructure deficiencies, approval-related issues and other irregularities.
Separately, the West Bengal Cabinet approved a proposal to recruit around 1.51 lakh personnel across various government departments. The recruitment plan includes 12,000 posts in the West Bengal Police and 4,000 in the Kolkata Police, taking the proposed police recruitment to 16,000.
A senior bureaucrat said departments have been directed to identify and resolve issues delaying recruitment. The government has also instructed departments to address recruitment-related hurdles and ensure that budgetary allocations are utilised according to specific plans.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal to establish a new correctional home at Nimtouri in Purba Medinipur district. Separate departmental status for AYUSH was also approved, along with an increase in the grant for Ashram hostels under the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and library grant scheme from Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,300.