By Binoy Viswam
As the Supreme Court of India has stayed the recommendations of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to stop government funding to madrasas (which are not compliant with the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 and to conduct an inspection of all madrasas) as well as subsequent actions taken by the Centre and various States, there is mild relief for the minorities and secular-minded people of the country. But the apprehension triggered by the move remains.
The NCPCR’s initiative is apparently guided by the ideology propounded by Bunch of Thoughts by M.S. Golwalkar. That ‘vicharadhara’ declares religious minorities as enemies of the nation. From the stance of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader, A.K. Bajpai, against this move, it is evident that even constituents of the ruling National Democratic Alliance have realised the danger behind this initiative.
The Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 is one of the prominent progressive pieces of legislation in independent India. The directive issued by the NCPCR to State governments on October 11, 2024, was under this Act. In India, children are trafficked for sex work, beggary and even for trade of vital organs. Many of them denied the first letters of knowledge. There has been a mockery of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986. But, unfortunately, none of these seems to concern the NCPCR. History shows that across the world, fascists have achieved their ulterior motives by a manipulation of rules and regulations.
The concept and history
The NCPCR further demands that children belonging to other religious groups should be thrown out of madrasas. It would be like “throwing the baby out with the bath water”, as cited now by the Supreme Court. According to the NCPCR, it is proved that many children belonging to other religious groups are also going to the madrasas. Why did it happen? It is difficult for anybody familiar with the experiences of the real Kerala story, a State that succeeded in the universalisation of public education, to understand this scenario. Primary education is not accessible to all in this country before and even after the enactment of the RTE Act, 2009. That is why a system has emerged of imparting secular education along with religious instructions and the government was compelled to provide financial assistance for the same in many States. The NCPCR has failed to understand this reality.
This story was originally published in thehindu.com. Read the full story here.