What’s your religion? Raj govt asks students, faces Oppn ire

The form (on the online portal) was prepared at a higher level and I do not know much about the religion column or the reasons for it

Rajasthan government is facing Opposition’s ire for apparently wanting to know the religion of students in its schools, and putting the information online. Congress has slammed the move, calling it communal profiling of students.

The state government created two online portals -- Shaala Darpan and Shaala Darshan – last year to maintain digital records pertaining to state’s schools and school education, including, students, teachers and staff, for public access. While Shaala Darpan carries records of secondary education, Shaala Darshan is meant for elementary education.

The information about students is to be filled in a format which has a specific column for religion. The format, education department officials say, has been issued by Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), the Central scheme launched in 2009 for increasing enrolment in secondary and senior secondary classes.

In the format, a copy of which is with Hindustan Times, students are asked to specify if they belong to BPL (Below Poverty Line) category, or CWSN (Children with Special Needs) category. Under the religion section, students have to specify their respective faith-- Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist, Muslims, Christian and Parsi.

There are about 45 lakh students in secondary and senior secondary schools, and about 32 lakh in elementary schools of Rajasthan.

Director of Secondary Education in Rajasthan Nathmal Didel said the form was universal for creating a standard database of students. “The form was prepared at a higher level and I do not know much about the religion column or the reasons for it,” he added.

Former education minister Bhawar Lal Meghwal slammed the decision and said the BJP was trying to create communal division like British did in colonial India.