Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was present at an event in Patna’s Bapu Auditorium where he was approached by madrasa teachers requesting a salary increase and the payment of their arrears. CM Nitish Kumar gave his assurance that he would consider their demands. The event, held on August 21st, marked the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Madrasa Board.
The event saw an estimated 15,000 attendees, including teachers from the Madrasa Board. They protested in front of CM Nitish Kumar, urging him to address their salary concerns. The CM subsequently met with them and assured them of a review.
Bihar has approximately 3,200 madrasas. Out of these, 1,600 are supported by state government grants, while the rest are unaided. The monthly salary of senior Maulvis and Fazils is roughly ₹50,000. Newly appointed teachers in different positions receive salaries between ₹24,000 and ₹34,000. Educational qualifications include Intermediate for Maulvi, Graduation for Alim, and PG for Fazil, with Hafiz teachers focusing on religious education.
The Madrasa system includes ‘Wastaniya’ up to class 8, ‘Fauqania’ up to class 10, ‘Maulvi’ up to class 12, and ‘Alim’ at the graduate level. The teachers expressed grievances over delayed salaries and the poor condition of the Madrasa Board. In May, teachers in Darbhanga also protested for unpaid salaries. The state has a significant number of madrasas, 1,600, that don’t receive state funding.