UP: Madrassas offer to double up as Covid care facilities

LUCKNOW: The Islamic Madrassa Modernization Teachers Association of India on Saturday wrote to chief minister Yogi Adityanath offering to convert state madrassas into Covid facilities, adding their teachers could also be deployed as corona warriors to help people in distress.
The president of the association said, the decision followed acute shortage of beds for Covid-19 patients in the state and the country. “There are several madrassas in every district which can be converted into Covid-19 facilities. Madrassa teachers are also willing to extend help as Covid warriors,” the letter said. In UP alone, the association has about 25,000 teachers in around 8,560 madrassas, which include both registered and government-aided institutions.
Talking to TOI, national president of the association, Eijaz Ahmed, said: “The state and the nation faces a crisis of beds, so we offer madrassa buildings to double up as Covid-19 facilities.”
“After discussion with madrassa teachers, it was decided we will also offer our services at this hour when people are not safe even in their homes. We feel it is high time we came forward and helped as Covid warriors. Madrassa teachers are ready to go to the field and help people,” he added.
The association is waiting for a response from the government, but is hopeful that madrassa buildings and teachers would be used for the well-being of people.