Government to start bridge courses for Madrasa students

To increase employability of Madrasa-educated students, some premier universities will launch a bridge course for them, said Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptullah Wednesday.

The bridge course, under the Nait Manzil programme, will be provided by Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi, Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh, Maulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad, and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

"Education and skill development of minorities is a priority for the government so that they can be economically empowered," the minister said adding that the bridge course will give required skill training to Madrasa students.

She added that government is trying to bring greater transparency in implementation of schemes for minorities.

"We are trying to transfer benefits to the accounts directly, because in many cases the delays are by state governments," she said.

"I had written to governments of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh on implementation of schemes related to minorities... I did not get any reply," she said naming a few states.

The minister, however, refused to elaborate on the states which were lagging behind in implementing the schemes.

"Rs.80 crore is stuck in one of the states, and the chief minister does not even reply to my letters," said the minister.