In New Delhi, individuals familiar with the situation stated that the Ministry of Minority Affairs has directed the closure of the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF). This decision came after the Central Waqf Council (CWC), an entity under the minority ministry responsible for overseeing educational efforts for minorities in the nation, submitted a proposal.
The directive, issued by the under-secretary of the minority ministry, Dhiraj Kumar, on February 7, abruptly orders the closure of the foundation without providing any substantial justification. Senior officials within the ministry have categorized it as an “internal matter” not yet disclosed to the public. According to a member of the foundation, internal deliberations are ongoing, and the directive has not been publicly released. Another member mentioned that a meeting scheduled for March 4 has been arranged, although the agenda remains undisclosed.
Hindustan Times attempted to obtain an official statement from the ministry, but they declined to comment. Similarly, efforts to reach the Central Waqf Council for comment were unsuccessful.
The directive suggests that MAEF “may propose an agenda for its legal closure and complete the dissolution process as per applicable laws.” As of November 30, 2023, MAEF holds funds amounting to Rs.1,073.26 crores with pending liabilities of Rs.403.55 crores, leaving Rs.669.71 crores available.
According to the directive, these funds are proposed to be transferred to the Consolidated Funds of India (CFI), while the liabilities are to be transferred to the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) to address pending claims and liabilities.
Established in 1989 on the birth centenary of the first education minister and freedom fighter Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, MAEF is a government-funded organization aimed at promoting education among educationally disadvantaged sections of the Muslim community. Over the years, the Maulana Azad National Fellowship supported numerous candidates, disbursing Rs.738.85 crore until its discontinuation in 2022, sparking widespread student protests.
In response to findings from the Sachar Committee report in 2006, which highlighted the educational disparities faced by Muslims, the ministry of minority affairs was established in 2006, bringing MAEF under its jurisdiction. However, MAEF experienced a significant budget reduction, with grants-in-aid plummeting from Rs.90 crore in 2021-22 to Rs.1 lakh in 2022-23, which was later increased to Rs.10 lakh in 2023-24. Nevertheless, for the year 2024-25, it did not receive any funds from the government.
Commenting on the development, a senior professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University expressed concern, stating, “The move will adversely affect Muslim students as MAEF played a pivotal role in promoting education within the Muslim community in India. Many students have benefited from the foundation, and it is unfortunate to see it being shut down.”
