District administration as well as Madhya Pradesh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MPCPCR) are mute spectators while booksellers and private schools affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) are digging deep into the pockets of hapless parents to reap profits in sale of school textbooks.
In over sale of text books, only four booksellers are selling the text books from class I to VIII for nearly 45 private schools affiliated to the CBSE. The situation at bookstore 'Book & Books' at MP Nagar locality, is customers have to first take a token and then, wait for their turn which comes after a long wait.
The complete set of textbooks and notebooks for classes I to VIII range from Rs2,000 to Rs3,800 at these stores. For example, at 'Book & Books', the complete set of class IV for Saint Joseph's School is available for Rs2,640. Similarly, the set of class III of Campion School is available for Rs2,870 at Priyanka Book Store in the old city.
MPCPCR Chairperson Usha Chaturvedi expressed inability on part of the commission to take any step in this regard. "If there is no party to lodge a complaint, whom shall we call in the hearing on this matterIJ The administration has already taken sufficient steps in this regards," she said.
Mithilesh Shrivastava, a local resident whose daughter has been promoted to class V in the Campion School, said, "The cost of complete textbooks and notebooks is nearly Rs 3000. I was told at the school that the complete set is available here. The price is huge, no doubt, but as parents we do not have much option."
"I have read in the newspapers that the district administration would act against any unfair practice if anyone complains. The problem is that even if I know that I am being made to pay extra money here, I fear making any complaint because my daughter might face consequences at the school," he said waiting for his set of books outside Priyanka Book Store.
When a nearby bookstore manager was asked why he did not stock the books, he replied that the parents are directed by the schools to go to these bookstores. "The bookstores and the schools have a deal for profit sharing. No parent will go any where else to buy books. So there is no point in stocking such material which would not sell," he said.
Bhopal District Education Officer (DEO) CM Upadhyay said that the administration has taken necessary steps to protect the interests of parents.
"We had called for the complete list of textbooks from these schools and it is available with us for any bookseller who wishes to sell them. The administration cannot itself start selling books, neither can we act unless there is a specific complaint from any parent," he said.