THE INDIAN EXPRESS : Wed Jan 23 2013, 01:29 hrs

In spite of awareness programmes and meetings by the education department this year for smooth implementation of the EWS quota under the RTE Act, 2011, activists working with the underprivileged are of the view that many private schools are yet to accept the idea of ragpickers' children studying in their schools.

Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP), a trade union of waste pickers in the city has been working for many years for welfare of waste pickers. "Last year, about 40 children of waste pickers got admission to private schools. This year, even after the government announcing greater transparency in the process, we are facing problems. Around 70 parents applied this time," said KKPKP activist Dipanwita Sen Gupta. The common issue with many parents was they were not allowed inside.

Manthra, whose four-year-old grandchild is eligible for pre-primary education, said. "We visited the school four to five times. The watchman did not let us in. Yesterday when we went again, he asked us to give an application. We did that and he kept it. We don't know what to do. If the school doesn't let us in, how will we fill the forms?" Some say forms were not given to them at all. "In many places, schools said they had run out of forms. Parents had to attach a separate application along with the forms. Almost all of them are illiterate, so writing an application and filling forms is a herculean task for them," Gupta said. "What the government should have done is to ensure there is a committee of two or three staff members to help these people fill the forms," Gupta said.

Many schools are refusing admissions to students who live outside the range of 1 km, said Archana Misal, another activist. "First I applied to a school where they refused admission saying my house was far and my son had crossed the eligible age. Then I went to another school where they did give me a form to fill after running around for two days," a mother said.

Reacting to the allegations, Mahavir Mane, officiating director, Primary Education said, "The 1-km range for admission is just a priority and not compulsory. The schools cannot deny admission on these grounds." He added, "We have already issued circulars to deputy district officers who in turn have given them to schools, stating that the schools cannot deny admission to anyone who wishes to see the principal. If the school doesn't permit any parents inside, it will be brought to the notice of the education board and we will take strict action against them."