Two minority-run schools in Nagpur, Maharashtra, were shut down after an investigation revealed they lacked the necessary government approvals to operate. The Maharashtra State Minority Commission, led by its president Pyare Khan, confirmed the closure of the two institutions, which had been claiming minority status but were found to be functioning without official sanction. Khan stated that the schools, based in Bhandara, had enrolled approximately 600 students, and the education department would relocate all students to nearby approved institutions to ensure no academic year is lost. The inquiry was initiated by the Nagpur Zilla Parishad's education department at the request of the Minority Commission. Khan explained that the commission received a complaint alleging the schools were operating illegally and had demanded money from staff to secure jobs, falsely promising government grants for salaries. He emphasized that the education department directed the Zilla Parishad to conduct the investigation, which was completed in March and reported to the deputy director of education in Nagpur. Khan criticized the lack of oversight, stating that such illegal minority schools operate across Maharashtra and that authorities have failed to address the issue. He expressed concern that some institutions with minority status are engaging in these activities, damaging the reputation of legitimate minority education. Khan urged parents to verify a school's legitimacy by checking its UDISE number, a unique identifier issued only to government-approved institutions and verifiable on the official portal. The commission has launched a crackdown on such irregularities, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement.#bhandara #pyare_khan #nagpur_zilla_parishad #maharashtra_state_minority_commission #udise_number

ZP Budget Crosses ₹50 Crore Mark For First Time, Solar, AI & Rural Infra In Focus Nagpur: For the first time in its history, the Nagpur Zilla Parishad’s budget has surpassed ₹50 crore, with chief executive officer Vinayak Mahamuni presenting a ₹53.67 crore outlay on Friday. This marks a significant increase from last year’s ₹46.58 crore. A major portion of the budget comes from stamp duty (mudrank), with ₹30 crore allocated to the ZP after statutory reservations. Additional revenue sources from gram panchayats include weekly markets, ponds, and bank interest, pushing the total outlay beyond ₹53 crore. The budget emphasizes solar energy, water supply, and sustainability, with plans to install approximately 1,400 KW of solar systems across 350 gram panchayats out of the total 748. These rural water supply schemes will be solarized to reduce recurring electricity costs, particularly in high-consumption areas like Fetri and Nagardhan, where annual bills often exceed lakhs. The project will fall under the rural water supply department, with ₹6 crore earmarked for this initiative. Water conservation is another priority, alongside routine pipeline repairs. The ZP will implement source-strengthening measures such as recharge pits and rainwater harvesting to ensure long-term sustainability. Defunct reverse osmosis (RO) plants will be revived, as many have remained non-functional due to lack of maintenance. A provision for five-year annual maintenance contracts (AMCs) has been included to address this. In a boost to grassroots governance, ₹3 crore has been allocated to the panchayat department for the first time under the Panchayat Raj Abhiyan.#indian_space_research_organisation #vinayak_mahamuni #nagpur_zilla_parishad #panchayat_raj_abhiyan #divyang_kalyan
