Bihar’s Children En Route to Madrasa Stopped in Odisha, Parents Express Concern

A recent incident in Cuttack, Odisha, has drawn attention as 59 children from Araria district in Bihar, who were en route to a madrasa, were halted by authorities at the local railway station. The children, whose parents had given consent for their journey, were reportedly intercepted by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and subsequently handed over to the Cuttack Child Welfare Committee.

The group was traveling to Jamia Islamia Riyaztul Oloom madrasa, located approximately 40 kilometers from Cuttack. Their parents, speaking to local media, expressed their dismay and confusion over the situation, emphasizing that they had entrusted the children to the madrasa for educational purposes. Advocate MD Nawaz Hassan, representing the parents, shared that a maulvi from the madrasa who was accompanying the children was not permitted to take them, leaving the children at a government-run shelter home managed by the Child Welfare Committee.

SK Shareef, the head of the Jamia Islamia Riyaztul Oloom madrasa, defended the legitimacy of the travel arrangements. He stated that the teachers had with them both Aadhaar cards and letters of consent from the parents, which he believed were sufficient for the journey. “These two documents are adequate,” Shareef asserted, while also noting that he had not traveled to Cuttack himself to oversee the situation.

This incident has sparked a debate regarding the rights of parents to send their children to religious educational institutions, alongside concerns about the safety and welfare of minors traveling without direct parental supervision. The local Child Welfare Committee, represented by its chairperson Manoj Vishwas, has yet to comment officially on the matter, as efforts to reach him for clarification have been unsuccessful.

As this story unfolds, it raises important questions about the intersection of education, parental rights, and child welfare in India, particularly in the context of religious education. The case remains under scrutiny as the parents and the madrasa officials seek to resolve the matter amicably, hoping for the swift return of the children to their intended educational institution.

Source: scroll.in