In a big move, the Uttarakhand Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, approved the Minority Educational Institutions Bill. The bill aims to
extend minority status benefits to institutions run by the Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian, and Parsi communities in the state. At present, the minority educational institution status is granted only to the Muslim community.
Minority Educational Institutions Bill To Be Act Soon
The Uttarakhand government will be introducing the Minority Educational Institutions Bill 2024 in the Monsoon Session of the state assembly starting from August 19. Official sources told news agency PTI that the bill was approved during the Cabinet meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Once enacted, it will be the first such Act in the country that aims to establish a transparent process for granting recognition to educational institutions established by minority communities in the state as well as ensure quality and excellence in education, official sources told news agency PTI.
Speaking on the bill, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dhami said that the government wants to bring transparency and ensure that everyone has access to education. "We want to bring transparency in this. Everyone should get education. In the minority community, our Sikhs, Jains, Arabis, Persians, Buddhists all come under the minority. Their institutions should be opened. They also have the right to education. We have expanded it a little, and there is transparency," Dhami said.
"...This bill of ours will also work in the field of minority reform... The opposition has always been doing vote bank politics. Our aim is that everyone should have the right to education..." he added.
What Changes With Uttarakhand's New Bill
1. Once Uttarakhand's new bill is implemented, the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016, and the Uttarakhand Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Rules, 2019, will be repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
2. The bill provides for the formation of an authority, making it mandatory for educational institutions established by all minority communities to obtain recognition from it. This authority will work to facilitate and promote educational excellence in these institutions so that the children of the minority community get quality education and their educational development can take place.
3. The authority will grant recognition to the minority educational institution only when certain conditions are fulfilled by the applicant. If any condition is violated or the funds received from fees, donations, grants, or any other funding source are found to be misused, the recognition of that institution can also be terminated.
4. The authority will ensure that education is imparted in these institutions according to the standards set by the Uttarakhand Board of School Education, and the evaluation of the students is fair and transparent.
5. After it is implemented, the study of the Gurumukhi and Pali languages will also be possible in recognised minority educational institutions.
