As admissions for seats under the Right to Education (RTE) quota in private schools kicked off this month, several parents from the lower economic background appear to be turning to touts to get their income and caste certificates despite the services being brought under Sakala.
Some parents said touts are demanding close to Rs. 1,000 for getting an income or caste certificate.
The last date to apply for admissions is February 8. Officials said That between January one and 23, as many as 12,303 applications for income certificates were received in Bangalore Urban district as compared to 9,262 in December 2013.
Puttamma, a domestic worker from Sunkadakatte who is planning to admit her grandson under the RTE quota, said that a tout demanded Rs. 1,000 if she wanted an income certificate “urgently”.
Shankar M, who works as a delivery boy in a travel agency at Jayanagar, had turned up at the tahsildar’s office on K.G. Road. He said, “I have been making several visits to various offices. But it seems really difficult to get an income certificate within the deadline. I might have to turn to touts,” he said. Officials in the revenue department state that each Nada Kacheri office receives around 200 applications every day for income certificates during the RTE admission season. “How can three officials visit 200 houses in a day?” an official said.
The Commissioner for Public Instruction had written to all the Deputy Commissioners to ensure no false income certificates are issued.
Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner G.C. Prakash said, “People have to be present while applying for the certificate. There is no scope for touts.”
