Waqf Board to rejuvenate madrassas; dress code, NCERT books and regular timings from next academic session

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Waqf Board has informed that all the madrassas in Uttarakhand will have a dress code and classes will be held from 8 am to 2 pm. Along with this, NCERT books will also be introduced in 103 madrassas registered with Uttarakhand Waqf Board, Waqf Board Chairman Shadab Shams said.

"The state government is trying to rejuvenate the madrassas. There is also preparation to run madrassas along the lines of modern schools. The dress code will be implemented from the next session in all 103 madrassas under the purview of the Waqf Board in Uttarakhand. NCERT books will also be implemented in all madrassas. In the first phase, 7 madrassas will be made modern, two in Dehradun, two in Udham Singh Nagar, two in Haridwar and one in Nainital," Shadab Shams said.

In October, Uttarakhand Social Welfare and Minority Welfare Minister Chandan Ram Dass informed that madrassas in Uttarakhand should get themselves registered with the state education department within a month or face closure.

"Madrassas have been served an ultimatum to register with the state education department within a month. If they fail to meet the deadline, steps will be taken to shut them," Ram Dass had said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had spoken about the need to conduct a study of madrassas amid allegations that the grants given to the madrassas were not being appropriately utilized.

As per estimates, there are more than 500 registered madrasas in Uttarakhand. Out of this, 400 are working under the State Madrasa Board and 103 under Waqf Board. The state government estimates that there are around 400 more unregistered madrassas.