Breaking its silence over the unaccounted Rs 3.4 crore meant for the state’s madrassas, the Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday demanded a white paper over the release of Central funds.
“It’s a very serious issue as it involves not just huge financial transactions of dubious nature but also the reputation of one of the most respected institutions of our society,” said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in her statement.
Mehbooba alleged that like all other centrally-sponsored schemes, the state government seems to have made a mess of the financial assistance released by the government of India for madrassas. “There is a huge gap between the amount released by the government of India and the funds acknowledged by the state government. Where has the money gone?” asked Mehbooba.
The obvious inconsistency, Mehbooba said, in the financial allocations by the Centre and its devolution to the ultimate users has a criminal implication. “The government must fully investigate it and come out with facts and figures immediately. But of equal importance is the fact that the highly respected institution of madrasas have been brought into disrepute,” she said.
Many leading institutions have distanced themselves from receiving funds under any Centre scheme aimed at introducing modern education in madrassa. The government had claimed it released funds to 362 madrassas under the scheme.
{{/usCountry}}Many leading institutions have distanced themselves from receiving funds under any Centre scheme aimed at introducing modern education in madrassa. The government had claimed it released funds to 362 madrassas under the scheme.
{{/usCountry}}“Though this government has caused immense damage to almost all institutions of the state, the latest victim madrasas should have been spared as they are generally run with community participation” she said.
It apparently looks that some of the institutions which have benefited from the funds might even do not exist, she alleged. “How and under whose authority have these madrassas received government money and have any utilization certificates been obtained?” questioned Mehbooba.