Despite the directive of Directorate of Education (DoE) of the Delhi Government, several private unaided schools have not been providing mandatory free uniforms and stationery to their students admitted under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota. Taking cognisance of the matter, Delhi Commission for Protection of Child’s Rights (DCPCR), which is currently the apex body in terms of grievance redressal under RTE, had also issued notices to the errant schools flouting State Government rules under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Even then, schools refused to act squarely blaming the Government for not releasing the funds for the freebies to students. The schools also claimed that the Government only provides fixed amount of Rs1,190 per student. However, the expenditure on uniform and stationery is more.
Point number 2 under rule number 10 in Part V of the Delhi Government rules under RTE states that schools shall ensure that children admitted from the weaker section and disadvantaged group ‘shall not be discriminated from the rest of the children in any manner pertaining to entitlements and facilities such as textbooks, uniforms, library, information and communication technology, extra-curricular activities and sports.’
Springdales School principal Ameeta Mulla Wattal said, “We did get circulars, but where do we take out the money from. These facilities amount to almost Rs5,000 every month. There are blazers, uniforms, books and several other things. We already have such a heavy deficit due to the 25 per cent free seats, if we start providing these facilities for free, our deficit will run into crores.”
Wattal further alleged that the money allotted for these entitlements to children has never come to the school. “The DoE did promise they would send Rs1,190 solely for entitlements to EWS students, but not a penny has come in and this has been the case ever since the RTE was implemented,” she said.
The DoE, however, waved this off as an excuse. Director of Education Padmini Singla said, “This is an issue that they have to deal with because according to Government school rates, this is how much these facilities cost. If they hike the price for such things, then they need to find a solution.” A member of the DCPCR said notices have been given to the schools. If they refuse to budge, the commission will initiate action. “There is a lot of discrimination in terms of cost in private/unaided schools. Some schools even charge for special activities related to co-curricular or sports. After scrutinising the complaints we receive, we will take action against them,” he said.
“At present, a total of 1,268 schools under DoE are private and unaided. Each school is given a stipulated amount of money, based on Government calculations, which is solely meant for EWS students,” said Singla.