The Assam cabinet has approved a proposal to shut down all
government-run madrassas and Sanskrit tols (schools) on Sunday. A bill in this
regard will be drafted during the upcoming winter session of the State
Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said.

“Existing laws related to
madrassas and Sanskrit tols will be repealed. A bill will be introduced in the
next session of the Assembly,” Patowary, who is also the spokesperson of
the Assam government, said.

The winter session of the Assam Legislative Assembly will begin from
December 28.

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The decision to dissolve all state-run madrassas was taken a few months back. Education
Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that all madrassas will be converted into high
schools and new admissions will be held for all.

“The
final year students will be allowed to pass out but henceforth all taking
admission in these schools will have to study as regular students,” he said.

The
Sanskrit schools will be looked after by Kumar Bhaskarvarma Sanskrit
University, and they will serve as centres of learning and research that will
focus on Indian culture, civilisation and nationalism, the minister said.

There are 610 state-run madrassas across Assam and the government has
been spending Rs 260 crore annually for these institutes, the minister added.