SHILLONG: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has summoned Meghalaya Chief Secretary DP Wahlang to address concerns in identifying Hindu and other non-Muslim children enrolled in madrassas, urging their admission to mainstream schools.
The apex child rights body has demanded in-person clarification and details from Chief Secretary Wahlang, scheduled for January 18.
This move comes a year after the NCPCR initially sought action, highlighting that the enrolment of non-Muslim children in madrassas is a violation of Article 28(3) of the Constitution.
The said article prohibits educational institutions from imposing religious instruction on children without parental consent.
Chief Secretary Wahlang is not alone in facing the NCPCR’s summons.
Apart from Meghalaya, the child rights body has also called upon chief secretaries from 10 states and Union Territories, including Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.
In a broader initiative, the NCPCR had previously urged all states and UTs to arrange basic education for children in madrassas by mapping previously unmapped and unrecognised institutions.
The chief secretaries of Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are scheduled for appearances on January 12, while those of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Goa will follow on January 15.
The Jharkhand chief secretary is summoned on January 16, with Karnataka and Kerala’s chief secretaries scheduled for January 17.
Finally, the chief secretaries of Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Telangana are set to appear on January 18.
Madrassas, traditionally focused on religious education, have come under scrutiny for allegedly enrolling non-Muslim children.
The NCPCR noted that government-funded or recognised madrassas often combine religious and formal education.
Priyank Kanoongo, the chairperson of the NCPCR, highlighted the commission’s persistent efforts over the last year, urging states and UTs to identify non-Muslim children in madrassas and facilitate their transition to mainstream schools.
The summons to chief secretaries marks a continuation of the NCPCR’s commitment to ensuring the educational rights and inclusivity of all children.
