Criticism over land use persists; envisaged schools will follow earlier projects in Kishanganj and Darbhanga
Team Clarion
PATNA – In a move aimed at improving educational opportunities for minority students, the Bihar government has approved the construction of residential schools in Begusarai and Katihar districts. These schools will follow earlier projects in Kishanganj and Darbhanga, aimed at uplifting minority communities through better educational infrastructure.
The decision, approved by the state Cabinet, involves a substantial allocation of about Rs 108 crores for the new schools. However, concerns have been raised over the reliance on Waqf Board land, with many calling for the use of government-owned land instead, an ETV Bharat report said.
While the government has identified Waqf land for the construction of these schools, critics argue that depending on such land limits the scope of the project. Waqf land is often entangled in legal disputes or spread across fragmented parcels, making large-scale construction difficult. Instead of relying on just one or two available pieces of Waqf land, many believe the government should take more responsibility by allocating its own land for such projects.
The Bihar Sunni Waqf Board has provided 560 beds in Khizr Chak, Begu Sarai, and Sarnian, Katihar, but the availability of Waqf land in other districts has proven problematic. Several proposals from other areas, where government land has been identified, have yet to be approved by the Cabinet, causing delays in the expansion of the program.
The Minority Welfare Department, led by Secretary Sohail Alam, has been actively working to identify land in other districts, but the process has been slow. While 10 potential sites in Gaya district were inspected, land disputes and inadequate space have hindered progress. Under the project’s guidelines, five acres of land are mandatory for each school. The only suitable location in Gaya is in Bikopur village, approximately 90 kilometres from the district headquarters. The distance and proximity to the Bihar-Jharkhand border have raised concerns about administrative complications.
Many local leaders argue that the government should simplify the land acquisition process by utilising state-owned land instead of waiting for Waqf land to become available or resolve disputes. “The government has enough land at its disposal, and it should take the lead in making land available for such critical projects. Relying solely on Waqf land is not a sustainable solution,” said a local education activist.
Despite these challenges, the project is part of a larger push to address educational disparities in Bihar, particularly among the state’s minority populations. While the government has taken steps to improve educational access, critics feel that more needs to be done. The Muslim community, in particular, continues to struggle with low literacy and education rates, a gap that has persisted for years despite various initiatives.
Syed Ahmed Qadri, a local leader, highlighted the importance of the project but stressed that relying on private land such as Waqf limits its reach. “This is a much-needed project, but the government must ensure that it is not stymied by land issues. If government land is used, the program can expand more quickly and reach more districts.”
The residential schools will provide education from class 9 to class 12, with separate hostels for boys and girls. Each school will be equipped with modern amenities, including hi-tech classrooms, a library, and playgrounds. The schools will accommodate more than 500 students each, and the average cost of construction is estimated at Rs 52 crore per school. While the project aims to uplift minority students, concerns remain over whether it will be implemented effectively given the current land challenges.
While the initiative is an important step toward improving education for Bihar’s minority communities, the government’s handling of the land acquisition process has raised questions about its commitment to the project. Many believe that the reliance on Waqf land creates unnecessary delays and limits the potential scale of the program.
“If the government is serious about providing better education to minorities, it needs to be more proactive in making land available. Depending on Waqf land, which often comes with legal challenges, is not the most effective way forward,” said another critic of the project.
