The Ministry of Minority Affairs has issued an order for the closure of the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), a government-funded organization established in 1989. The decision, proposed by the Central Waqf Council (CWC), has raised eyebrows as it comes without a clear rationale, leaving the future of educational initiatives for minorities hanging in the balance.
The order, signed by the minority ministry’s under-secretary, Dhiraj Kumar, on February 7, was kept under wraps until recently. The ministry officials have referred to it as an “internal matter,” withholding any public disclosure. Internal discussions are reportedly ongoing, and the decision is expected to be released in a meeting scheduled for March 4.
Despite attempts to seek an official comment from the ministry, they declined to provide any information. Similarly, efforts to contact the Central Waqf Council for comments on the matter were unsuccessful.
According to the order, MAEF is urged to propose an agenda for its legal closure and initiate the dissolution process as per applicable laws. As of November 30, 2023, the foundation holds funds totaling Rs.1,073.26 crores, with pending liabilities of Rs.403.55 crores, leaving Rs.669.71 crores available.
The proposed course of action suggests transferring these funds to the Consolidated Funds of India (CFI) and the liabilities to the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) to address pending claims and liabilities.
MAEF, established on the birth centenary of the first education minister and freedom fighter Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, aimed at promoting education among educationally disadvantaged sections of the Muslim community. However, the abrupt discontinuation of the Maulana Azad National Fellowship in 2022, a scheme aiding over 6,700 candidates, led to widespread student protests.
The Sachar Committee report in 2006 highlighted the educational challenges faced by Muslims, positioning them slightly above the Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribes but below Hindu Other Backward Class, other minorities, and Hindu general in various indicators. In response to these findings, the Ministry of Minority Affairs was established in 2006, leading to MAEF falling under its purview.
However, the MAEF experienced a significant budget cut, with grants-in-aid dropping from Rs.90 crore in 2021-22 to a mere Rs.1 lakh in 2022-23. Although this increased to Rs.10 lakh in 2023-24, for the year 2024-25, the foundation did not receive any funds from the government.