The Rajasthan state government relaxed rules for the 7,000 Pakistani Hindus seeking Indian citizenship, allowing their children to enrol in government as well private educational institutions. “We welcome the government move because it will allow the children from Pakistan’s Hindu minority to get education,” said Singh Sodha, president of Seemant Lok Sangthan (SLS).
According to the SLS, it was difficult for the Pakistani Hindu children to get enrolled in schools. The government clarified that all children have the right to education.
The SLS is spearheading a campaign for Indian citizenship to Pakistan’s Hindu minority living in India. “Now such children can be part of India’s Sarva Siksha Abhiyan,” Mr Sodha said.
The issue came into light when Pakistani Hindus camping in Jodhpur approached the government and private schools for admission of their children. But the school authorities refused to enrol them citing the legal hurdles. “The children from Pakistan’s Hindu minority in India have been facing two problems: First the change in language and second a new syllabubs,” a Pakistani Hindu said.
The SLS has set up a centre at the refugee camp in Jodhpur to educate the children of Pakistani Hindus. “Not only in elementary and school education but several students at the senior level face the problems when they moved to educational institutions for higher education,” a Pakistani Hindu said.
“Our children were left out of school in absence of such order,” Govardhan, a migrant Hindu from Pakistan said.
The Hindus from Pakistan say they migrated to India due to religious persecution.