By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: The guidelines for recognising educational institutions with Minority Character Certificate (MCC) will soon undergo a change in West Bengal [WB]. A state cabinet meeting was held to discuss on the norms of application for MCC. Sources from minority affairs revealed that the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions will grant minority status to those educational institutions having more than 50 % minority students. Amendments will be made in accordance with the new guidelines, soon in the right to education act.
In 2008, the Buddhadev Bhattacharya led left front Government issued a Government order [vide No. 942-MD, dated – 30. 6.2008], which created complications in the issuance of minority character certificate to institutions within the state.
As per the order the minority character certificate will be temporarily issued, valid for three years and it needs to get renewed on expiry. But the central govt issues permanent minority status and due to this most among the NGO run Minority Institutions in West Bengal approaches the National Minority Commission at New Delhi. As a result a lot of such cases got in to the pending list, due to the immense number of applications there.
The central govt has thus issued minority status to 15 institutions in 2009, whereas just seven in 2010. Differently, in 2011 out of the 83 institutions issued with minority status, many of those WB govt recognized primary Madrasahs were included.
Taking this context in to consideration the present Mamata led govt is on its way to make few changes in the previous left front govt’s order on MCC. The decisions as such made regarding the changes in norms for application for minority status, is expected to help many NGO run institutions within the state. Besides it is expected that a new criteria will be added to make provisions for the admission of non-minority students in those minority institutions according to the educational rights act, sources said.
The point noteworthy regarding WB is that the state minority affairs ministry is handled by the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, herself. Principal Secretary for Minority Affairs Mr Nurul Haque is making heart felt attempts for easing out the procedures in obtaining Minority Character Certificate. Besides being an IAS officer, he has been part of so many Muslim run educational Institutions in West Bengal. He is the chief advisor of GD Study Circle, run by GD Charitable Society which controls more than 30 Muslim educational Institutions in West Bengal.