The West Bengal Cabinet has decided in principle to gradually shut down 250 government-recognised private madrasas citing low enrolment and inadequate infrastructure. The institutions will continue classes till December before closure. The Cabinet also approved recruitment of around 1.51 lakh personnel across departments, including 16,000 in police forces.
The West Bengal Cabinet on Wednesday took an in-principle decision to gradually shut down 250 government-recognised private madrasas, most of which have very low or negligible student enrolment and inadequate infrastructure, an official said.
Madrasas face closure
These madrasas across the state will be allowed to continue holding classes until December in the interest of the handful of students currently enrolled, after which they will be closed, he said.
The council of ministers also cleared a proposal for recruitment of around 1.51 lakh personnel across various government departments.
“The Cabinet decided in principle to close down 250 private madrasas that lack adequate infrastructure and have a negligible number of students. They will be allowed to function till December,” the official said.
The reports from these institutions are expected to be received before the Durga Puja festivities, following which necessary administrative action will be taken, the official said.
Survey prompts action
The move comes days after the state government ordered closure of 252 unauthorised madrasas and sent show-cause notices to around 100 others after a state-wide survey that found that several such institutions lacked requisite approvals and basic infrastructure.
Nearly 2,500 madrasas operating across the state without government registration may also be closed in phases in future, the official said.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to issue show-cause notices to 100 other madrasas over alleged irregularities, he added.
Government recruitment plan
The council of ministers cleared a proposal for recruitment of around 1.51 lakh personnel across various government departments, including 16,000 in the state and Kolkata police, the official said.
Of them, 12,000 personnel will be hired in the West Bengal Police and 4,000 in Kolkata Police.
“The government wants to expedite recruitment across departments and fill vacancies so that public services are not affected. The departments concerned have been asked to address issues holding up the recruitment process,” the senior bureaucrat said.
