Madhya Pradesh Bars Non-Muslim Enrollment in Madrasas

The Madhya Pradesh government has mandated that madrasas and affiliated schools receiving state funding cannot enroll non-Muslim students or compel them to participate in religious education without parental consent. This decision follows a recommendation from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which raised concerns over the enrollment of non-Muslim children in madrasas to secure government grants. NCPCR Chairman Priyank Kanoongo emphasized that institutions found enrolling non-Muslim children risk losing their funding and registration. A survey will be conducted to identify non-Muslim children currently enrolled, amid reports of over 9,000 Hindu children enrolled in madrasas in the state, which has led to public outcry. The directive aims to address allegations that non-Muslim children were being forced into religious studies, a controversial issue in Madhya Pradesh.