However the state government would not give any financial assistance to these seminaries.
“The Bengal government will not provide any monetary aid to these madarsas because of the state’s financial crisis” the chief minister said.
The madarsas would be recogonised to qualify for financial assistance from centre. The state government has no enough money to spend on these seminaries.
Mamata, who is also in charge of the minority affairs , told media persons here that the recognition would make the madarsas eligible for central grants.
“Advertisements will soon be published in newspapers giving details on the procedure of applying to the government for the recognition,” Mamata said.
At present, there are around 660 recognised madarsas in the state. The state government pays the salaries of the teachers and also funds infrastructure development.
If these madarsas are recognised, they will get central assistance. Centre gives grants only if the institutions are recognised by the state government.
The recognised madarsas or minority institutions across the country get central assistance to the tune of Rs 1,250 crore every year for the construction of buildings under the Maulana Azad Education Foundation.
Mamata’s announcement evoked mixed reactions from the Muslsim community. Wjhile a lrge section are happy that there madarsas would be recogonised however many are surprised that why sate is not ready to share the burden with centre.
“Do you think centre will give grants to all the madarsas ?”, asks minority leader Moinuddin adding that state government must provide assistance to madarsas too.