An alarming revelation has been made during a verification drive of Madarsas in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar. The district administration’s investigation found suspicious records for approximately 11,000 children. The officials suspect that the Madarsas in Haridwar were inflating student numbers to reap benefits from government schemes, including mid-day meal assistance and other minority welfare programs.
There are 131 Madarsas registered with the Madarsa Board in Haridwar. Government records indicate approximately 31,000 children are enrolled in these madrasas. These children were receiving assistance under various central and state government schemes. After the investigation, the Haridwar district administration said that 11,000 children listed in the board records were found to be missing.
While the number of Madarsa students on record was 31,000, after a month-long intensive verification, it turned out that the actual number was just 19,400.
Speaking about the alleged discrepancy in the number of Madarsa students and fraud by Madarsa operators to reap benefits of government schemes illegally, Haridwar District Magistrate Mayur Dixit confirmed the matter, and said administrative action, including recovery, will be taken against institutions found to have irregularities in midday meal and student numbers records. The officer also said that several Madarsas have applied to shut down their operations.
Notably, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has approved the abolition of the Madrasa Board and the formation of the Uttarakhand Minority Education Authority. The change will take effect from 1st July 2026.
