Parents belonging to economically weaker sections staged a protest here on Saturday and were later taken into police custody, while they were demanding action against schools allegedly denying admission to their children under the Right to Education Act.
Parents converged at Rani Channamma Circle and shouted slogans against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister for Primary & Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar for their ‘negligence’ and for allowing the managements of private schools to carry out what they described as “business of education” and “selling seats” for thousands of rupees. They alleged that the managements were collecting donations ranging from Rs.30,000 to Rs.50,000 and above for admissions to LKG and UKG standards.
Though the government invoked the RTE Act to ensure that no child was denied of his or her right to education, it was not effectively implemented in Belagavi city, they alleged.
The parents also burnt the effigies of Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Ratnakar. As the parents were reluctant to withdraw their protest, the police took them into custody to clear the vehicular traffic jam at the busy Rani Channamma Circle.
Deputy Director of Public Instructions S.Y. Halangali told The Hindu that the complaints of the parents were being looked into, even as the Department had extended the last date from May 20 to 23 for the admissions selected under the first round of RTE Lottery.
Meanwhile, the DDPIs and Block Education Officers held a meeting to find ways and means to redress the grievances of the agitating parents.
