Malda, Feb. 7: Authorities of Kambitola High Madarsa at Rajnagar in Kaliachak have deducted Rs 25 from the book grant given to each student to accord a reception to a minister at the school.

The Bengal madarsa education minister, Abdus Sattar, however, said he was not aware of the collection of money, nor had he plans to visit the school in the near future.

According to official sources, the state government had sanctioned over Rs 1.3 lakh under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan scheme. The block development officer had handed over the money to the madarsa authorities last week. Each student was supposed to get Rs 150 for buying books.

The madarsa authorities had started distributing the money since Monday. But instead of Rs 150, each student received Rs 125. This had infuriated the guardians who stormed into the school today and asked for an explanation.

Basir Ali, a guardian who met the madarsa teacher-in-charge Mir Zia Hossain, told reporters: “No one explained to us why the money was deducted.”

Hossain, however, said today that the Rs 25 collected from each student would be used to meet the cost of organising a reception for the minister at the institution. The decision had been taken by the school governing body, he said.

When contacted in Calcutta, Sattar sounded surprised. “I have no plan to visit the school in the near future. I will take stern action against those collecting money in my name,” he said.

The Malda district inspector of schools (secondary), Chinmoy Sarkar, said he had received complaints and would inquire into it.