The Hindu : New Delhi News : Schools violating norms on free seats to poor with impunity

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Monday, Dec 22, 2008
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Schools violating norms on free seats to poor with impunity

Parul Sharma

Centre, DDA ticked off for not taking any ‘follow up action’ to ensure compliance

Many educational institutions were allotted land by the DDA at concessional rates
They have failed to provide 25 per cent free admission to poor students which was mandatory

NEW DELHI: A large number of educational institutions that were allotted land by the Delhi Development Authority at concessional rates, subject to 25 per cent free admission to students from financially poor background, had failed to provide that stipulated reservation.

This has been pointed out by the 78th report of the Public Accounts Committee of the Lok Sabha that had evaluated action taken on the 42nd report of the PAC.

As per the Committee (2008-09) chaired by V.K. Malhotra, the Union Ministry of Urban Development and DDA have not taken any “follow up action” to ensure compliance from the defaulting educational institutions.

In the 42nd report, the committee had examined DDA’s policy of allotment of land to educational institutions at concessional rates and the compliance of the stipulated reservation/freeship conditions for poor students by the beneficiary schools.

During 1990-91 to 2003-04, DDA had allotted land at concessional rates to 381 registered societies for establishing schools.

In the 42nd report, the committee had found that as many as 133 out of the 381 beneficiary societies failed to provide 25 per cent reservation for children from the weaker sections. Also, 343 schools had increased their tuition fees without the requisite approval of the Directorate of Education of Delhi Government.

Zero compliance

The committee in its 42nd report had observed that the Directorate had identified 33 schools where it had found zero compliance of the freeship norm. The committee had recommended that the Union Ministry of Urban Development and DDA in coordination with the Directorate of Education find ways to penalise the defaulting schools, like taking over of their management, that may act as a deterrent to other schools.

In their Action Taken Note, the Union Ministry said that they had suggested the Directorate of Education to amend the Delhi School Education Act and Rules, 1973, to incorporate a provision stipulating adherence to the condition of freeship as a pre-condition for granting recognition.

The Union Ministry had also maintained that since the matter was sub-judice, the necessary amendment in the Act could not be made.

The latest report has noted that “no follow-up action” had been taken by the Union Ministry and DDA to prevail upon the Delhi Government in carrying out the amendments to the Act.

The committee has also indicted the Delhi Government for its “callous attitude” in not taking action for amendment of the Act in order to penalise the defaulting schools.

The committee feels the Union Ministry of Urban Development should pursue the matter with the Delhi Government so that the amendments are carried out within a period of two months from presentation of the 78th report.

The committee has also pointed out that action be taken to appoint Government representatives on the governing bodies of all beneficiary societies as it would help in pressing the school management to ensure compliance of the Government directives, including the freeship norm.

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