In a surprising turn of events, the districts of Bhind and Morena in Madhya Pradesh, known for their relatively low Muslim population, have come under scrutiny for having an unusually high number of madrasas. What’s more perplexing is that these madrasas reportedly have more Hindu children enrolled than Muslim children. However, investigations reveal that these children do not regularly attend the madrasas but are instead enrolled in other schools. This situation has raised suspicions of a significant scam involving government funds.
High Enrollment, Low Attendance
In the Bhind and Morena districts, there are a total of 137 madrasas, with 67 in Bhind and 70 in Morena. These madrasas have reported an enrollment of 3,880 Hindu children based on their Samagra ID. However, investigations have shown that most of these children are not attending the madrasas for their education. Instead, they are enrolled in other government or private schools. This discrepancy has led to suspicions of major fraud, as madrasas receive 50,000 rupees for every 100 children enrolled.
Parents Unaware of Enrollments
Interestingly, many parents are unaware that their children are enrolled in these madrasas. The situation suggests that the enrollment figures might be inflated to obtain government funds. This has raised questions about the integrity of the madrasas’ management and their use of government resources.
Contrasting Figures with Burhanpur
A significant point of concern is the comparison with Burhanpur, the district with the highest Muslim population in the state, which has only 23 madrasas. In stark contrast, Bhind and Morena, with their lower Muslim populations, have a disproportionately high number of madrasas. This raises suspicions of a fraudulent scheme to exploit government funds allocated for madrasa education.
Government Benefits and Suspicions of Fraud
Madrasa enrollments bring several government benefits. For every 100 children with a 70 percent attendance rate, madrasas receive:
- 2.10 quintals of wheat
- 11,440 rupees for cooking costs
- 4,000 rupees per month for cooks
- Graduate teachers receive a salary of 3,000 rupees
- Post-graduate teachers receive 6,000 rupees
These benefits are intended to support the education of children in madrasas but may be misused if enrollment figures are falsified.
The Fund Mathematics
In Bhind, the Madarsa Husseini for only girls on BTI road has 77 students, of whom 44 per cent are Hindu. The Madarsa Deen-e-Akbar and Husseini Program for only girls, located behind BTI School in Mahavir Nagar, Bhind, has 83 students, with 53 per cent being Hindu. The Madarsa Masjid Navi in Subhash Nagar, Bhind, reports 87 students, 44 per cent of whom are Hindu.
In the districts of Bhind and Morena, there are a total of 137 madrasas—70 in Morena and 67 in Bhind—enrolling 3,880 Hindu children. In stark contrast, Burhanpur, the district with the highest Muslim population in the state, has only 23 madrasas. This significant disparity raises concerns about a potential scam aimed at diverting government funds and resources intended for educational support.
In response to revelations that Hindu children were enrolled in madrasas to fraudulently claim government aid, stringent measures were taken on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Out of 80 madrasas in Sheopur, 56 had their recognition revoked. Furthermore, School Education Minister Rao Uday Pratap has instructed an expedited physical verification of madrasas across all districts.
Official Investigation Initiated
Priyank Kanungo, the Chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, has directed an investigation into this matter. Initial investigations into most of the madrasas in Morena and Bhind have revealed that the majority of the Hindu children enrolled do not attend these madrasas, as they are attending other schools. This pattern suggests a fraudulent scheme designed to exploit government funds.
Ongoing Investigation and Potential Repercussions
As the investigation continues, more details are expected to emerge. The implications of this potential scam could be significant, leading to a reassessment of how madrasa enrollments are managed and verified in the state. Authorities are keen to uncover the full extent of this issue and ensure that government resources are used appropriately and effectively for the education of all children.
It has also emerged that the names of several students, including software engineer Manav Goyal, doctor Priya Mittal, and doctor Jyotsna Goyal, were listed in madrasa records dating back to 2004 and reappearing in 2018 and 2023. These names were utilised to fraudulently claim government grants and supplies.
