The Central government approved the formation of Central Madrasa Board. Efforts are on to give this project a practical shape. The Board will be composed of a Chairman and ten members. Their term will be three years each. This approval comes at a time when the General Elections are round the corner. The timing of the approval has put the Muslim organisations in a quandary. If they oppose the Board, it will strengthen the communal forces. Soon after the formation of the UPA government at the Centre the Union Minister for Human Resource Development Mr. Arjun Singh appointed Justice Suhel Aijaz Siddiqui for this project. Justice Siddiqui toured several Madrasas all across India and spoke to the authorities to chalk out a feasible plan. However, at that point of time initially, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind and later All Indian Muslim Personal Law Board vehemently opposed the move. Thus, the government was forced to retract. The Ministry has also provided that the Madrasas may opt either to introduce modern subjects in their syllabus and get affiliation from the state boards or the students of these madrasas may take examinations for the Open Schools. It has also proposed that these madrasas can appoint teachers for Science, Mathematics, English etc. These teachers would be paid by the Central government. Their salaries may range from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 6000. The Ministry has in all allocated Rs. 325 crores for this purpose.
CENTRAL MADRASA BOARD APPROVED DESPITE OPPOSITION
The Central government approved the formation of Central Madrasa Board. Efforts are on to give this project a practical shape. The Board will be composed of a Chairman and ten members.
