Tainted Muslim orphange gets favours from Kerala ministry

Kochi, July 28 (TruthDive): Muslim orphanage in Kozhikode that was under scanner for bringing ‘orphans’ from Bihar and West Bengal to shore up the attendance has now been given the permission to run Plus Two classes by the Kerala Education ministry.

The Mukkom orphanage has three higher secondary schools and now they have got permission to start Plus Two courses. The patron of the organization is Muslim League president Thangal. The permission flouted the norms that Plus Two courses should be allotted only in areas where the schools do not offer it.

In the vicinity of Mukkom orphanage, there are three schools offering Plus Two courses. The orphanage running on government aid had resorted to luring children of poor families mostly Muslims living in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal to enroll in the institution. This was to get the required numbers to get financial aid from government.

In turn, the orphanage can appoint teachers in the school and their salaries are paid by the government. The appointments are made on the basis of the teacher’s ability to pay bribes to the management. A teacher’s job fetches at least Rs 10-15 lakhs.

Jharkhand police has registered a case of human trafficking. The agents who paid money to the parents of the kids too have been booked. The Kerala police on pressure from Muslim League, the second biggest ally in Congress-led ministry had given a clean chit to the orphanage.

Muslim League that controls the education portfolio came under fire from other allies as it imposed a financial burden on an empty treasury. It was accused of aiding private schools run by its members which in turn led to loss of patronage for the government-run ones in many areas.

Muslim League finally got over the opposition after agreeing to conditions like each class in Plus Two should have 40 students and teachers appointed will be on contract basis. The education minister had started a green revolution in his constituency by painting blackboards in classroom with green and asked teachers to come in green sarees.