Kozhikode: About Rs 14.9 crore would be given as grant to more than 540 madarassas in Kerala in the first phase of a central scheme for their modernisation, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said.
Speaking after disbursing the grant to madarassas here at a function, he said in the first phase 547 institutions would be covered under the scheme. The second phase disbursment of the grant would be taken up once the first phase utilisation certificate was submitted, Chandy said.
He said the initiative for the novel scheme was taken by former Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
During his five years rule, Gandhi had ushered in many developments in the educational and telecommunication sector, he said.