Assam government plans to shut state-run madrassas, tols

GUWAHATI: The Assam government has decided to convert all state-run madrassas and Sanskrit tols into high schools and higher secondary schools within four to five months, education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday.

“Government shouldn’t be bearing the expense of religious teaching. So, we have decided to close such institutions,” Sarma said.

He further said that teachers working at these madrassas and tols will continue to receive their salaries. A new law will be introduced to bring these institutions under a regulatory framework.


He clarified that the move will not affect privately-run madrassas and tols.

At present, Assam has around 1,200 madrassa and 200 Sanskrit tols.

The government has decided to provide Rs 10, 000 to student who have cleared their Class 10 and 12 examinations to help them pursue higher education. It also plans to launch a scheme to provide assistance to at least 15,000 young people of the tea plantations to establish their own business.

The government proposed a one-time grant of Rs 25,000 to each youth. The state also promised to give Rs 1.3 lakh to tea workers of Assam Tea Corporation Limited to build permanent homes.