Nagpur: Maharashtra Minorities Commission chief Pyare Khan said his crackdown on ‘erring’ minority schools will continue despite some groups asking him to “settle” the issue. Khan alleged Maharashtra has many schools with minority tags which are simply squeezing money from govt coffers without the benefits reaching the students.“There are 8,500 minority schools in the state, of which just over 3,000 receive govt grants,” said Khan. “Upon analyzing data we found that many schools don’t have real students enrolled but only on paper. By showing this increased student strength they hire teachers whose salary comes from the govt treasury. And even this staff is almost always from the same family,” he said.Khan claimed he was offered terms of settlement, to let go of this crackdown. “Some group approached me saying they will appoint two teachers based on my recommendation in every school. I told them my family business is over Rs 2,000 crore, so I don’t need their bribe money or the power of appointment of teachers. Govt is spending over Rs 1,000 crore on minority institutions and still they shout that nothing is being done,” said Khan.The minorities commission chief said he will aggressively pursue such schools. “I am warning them to mend their ways and come clean, because if we track you then the strictest and harshest action permissible under law will be taken against all stakeholders,” said Khan.
