RSS accuses minority institutions of misusing privileges; demands change in recognition norms

NEW DELHI Accusing minority educational institutions of misusing its privileges, a RSS-affiliated organisation has called for change in the criteria for awarding minority recognition to schools and colleges.

Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal (BSM), one of the six Sangh affialites focusing on education, raised this demand during the launch of its draft education policy on Wednesday. One of the chapters of the draft policy, which BMS said was based on the feedback of 4,000 educationists over the last six months, makes a critical observation of the management of minority institutions.

Mukul Kanitkar, joint organising secretary of BMS, told reporters that BMS will soon approach the Supreme Court to seek a change in the criteria for minority recognition. "At present an institution's minority status depends on who runs the school or college. Our constitution provides special autonomy to minorities to govern and run their institutions. This privilege was meant for the benefit of the minority community. When you look at the students studying at these institutions, most are from other communities. This means they haven't been able to benefit their community," he said.

"We want that the minority status should be granted to a school or college based on the number of students from the minority community studying there and not who is running the institution. We are working on this and will soon approach the Supreme Court for this," he added. The draft education policy of BMS will be submitted to the state governments and HRD Ministry.