The Government of Maharashtra is to launch a scheme to link Madrasas and Maktabs to the mainstream education system so as to provide equal job opportunities for the Madrasa graduates. In a meeting, held on 11 February, to discuss the modalities of the scheme that will affect more than two lakh Madrasa students across the state, the government has decided to ensure systematic improvement in the infrastructure of residential Madrasas, living facilities and educational methods being adopted at Madrasas in every district. The scheme will be drawn on the lines of similar projects introduced by the Centre. The state will hold a video-conference of religious heads and scholars before finalising it.
However, the government’s proposal to link Madrasas to modern educational system has raised many eyebrows and scholars of the community has opposed the government’s move as, according to them, it would harm the independence of Madrasas.