Daijiworld Media Network

New Delhi, Aug 19: With an aim to enhance transparency, recognize “fake madrasas” and keep tab on irregularities, the Uttar Pradesh government has launched a separate web portal for UP madrasa board.

All madrasas are supposed to register online and enter details of their management, teachers, number of students, building, class rooms etc. ''The portal will help in identifying fake madrasas operating in the state,'' said an official of the UP Madarsa Board.

UP Waqf Minister Mohsin Raza said that the move will bring transparency in the 19,000 recognised and 560 aided madrasas operating in the state. “There were a number of complaints of irregularities in madrasas and the website plans to tackle the same. This is a step towards digitisation which is on the priority of the Yogi Adityanath government,” he said.

The portal was launched by the state minister for minority welfare Lakshmi Narain Chowdhury, who said that madrasa education should also be modern like in other educational institutions. “With modernisation, students of madrasas will be able to get technical education and they will get better job opportunities,” he said.

Chowdhury alleged that the previous governments used madrasas as a vote bank but none of the records of payments, schemes have been maintained. “Our government’s priority is to give better and job- oriented education to all youths so that doctors and engineers are produced from these madrasas,” he said.

Meanwhile, Muslim clerics and madrasa managers have sharply criticised the creation of the portal. They alleged that the Islamic Seminaries are being ''targeted'' by the UP government.

Recently, a directive was sent to madrasas with guidelines to celebrate Independence Day and also video record the event. The government plans to take action against madrasas which did not sing the national anthem and celebrate the event in accordance.

Lakshmi Narain Chowdhury told media persons that action against madrasas that “lack patriotism” is justified.