New Delhi, October 16, 2012, DHNS:
Law says poor students can’t be charged fees of any kind
A pre-school student from the economically weaker section has been charged Rs 500 for two months by a private school for the food served under the government-funded midday meal scheme.
Activists say Dayanand Model School in Patel Nagar is violating regulations as schools are not supposed to charge any fee to poor students admitted under the EWS quota.
Schools are also supposed to be get government funds if they decide to provide midday meals to EWS students, though private schools have complained in the past that they don’t get adequate funds for this.
No school fee
Kamlesh, the student’s mother, said the school did not charge anything from them for his admission, but is charging for lunch provided by the school for the last two months. The payment was made to the school through Allahabad Bank in East Patel Nagar.
“The school has charged Rs 250 per month. I was not aware that we were not supposed to pay for any provisions given by the school to students who are studying for free. Shubham has been going to this school for four months now,” said Kamlesh, who works as a maid.
Parents were recently called by the school authorities and they were asked to pay more money for the school meal for September and October.
“When she approached me regarding this issue, I stopped her from paying for these two months as under the EWS category schools are not supposed to charge children any kind of fee,” said advocate Kusum Sharma.
She added private schools which opt for the midday meal scheme can’t charge even non-EWS students for it.
Breaking rules
Social Jurist, a rights group, has written to the directorate of education and the school to look into the issue. “Under the provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009 read with the Delhi RTE Rules, 2011 the school is obliged to provide all facilities to EWS students free of cost. You are requested to stop demanding any amount from EWS students on account of midday meal,” reads the letter.
Refund sought
Social Jurist has also demanded that the school refund the amount taken from EWS students towards midday meal. When contacted, the school authorities said the allegations were baseless and refused to give any explanation.
Schools are also supposed to be get government funds if they decide to provide midday meals to EWS students, though private schools have complained in the past that they don’t get adequate funds for this.
No school fee
Kamlesh, the student’s mother, said the school did not charge anything from them for his admission, but is charging for lunch provided by the school for the last two months. The payment was made to the school through Allahabad Bank in East Patel Nagar.
“The school has charged Rs 250 per month. I was not aware that we were not supposed to pay for any provisions given by the school to students who are studying for free. Shubham has been going to this school for four months now,” said Kamlesh, who works as a maid.
Parents were recently called by the school authorities and they were asked to pay more money for the school meal for September and October.
“When she approached me regarding this issue, I stopped her from paying for these two months as under the EWS category schools are not supposed to charge children any kind of fee,” said advocate Kusum Sharma.
She added private schools which opt for the midday meal scheme can’t charge even non-EWS students for it.
Breaking rules
Social Jurist, a rights group, has written to the directorate of education and the school to look into the issue. “Under the provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009 read with the Delhi RTE Rules, 2011 the school is obliged to provide all facilities to EWS students free of cost. You are requested to stop demanding any amount from EWS students on account of midday meal,” reads the letter.
Refund sought
Social Jurist has also demanded that the school refund the amount taken from EWS students towards midday meal. When contacted, the school authorities said the allegations were baseless and refused to give any explanation.
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