Assam to shut down govt-run madrasas, Sanskrit tols

Guwahati: The Assam cabinet on Sunday approved a proposal to shut down all government-run madrasas and Sanskrit tols (Sanskrit-learning centres) in the state. The state government would table a Bill to this effect in the winter session of the Assembly.

Assam Education Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a series of reformative measures at a press meet.

Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that a bill would be tabled in the next winter session of the Assam Assembly, scheduled to begin from 28 December. “The Assam Cabinet has approved the repeal of provisions of Madrassa and Sanskrit Tolls in the state. An act will be introduced for this and a bill will be tabled in the next assembly session. A secular education system will be started in the state,” Patowary said.

As part of the secularisation reforms, all state-run madrasas and Sanskrit tolls will be closed and existing laws related to madrasas will be repealed. The government-run madrasas will be converted to high schools and Sanskrit tolls will be turned into centres for cultural research. A degree/diploma course in Indian civilisation will also be introduced.