New Delhi : Today is the 6th day of indefinite fast by senior activist Dr. Sandeep Pandey, Adviser, NAPM and Vice-President, Socialist Party, at his Lucknow residence against non-implementation of provisions of Right to Education Act by a City Montessori School, which has refused to give admission to 31 children from economically weaker sections. The Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA), Lucknow passed an order on April 06, 2015 within the ambit of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act or RTE Act. Whereas the school has not only violated the national act and also went to the high court against the very decision taken by BSA. It is also to note that the same school offers 40% concession in fees to children of IAS officers, MPs, MLAs, Journalists and Advocates. Maybe this is the reason why no action is being taken against the school.
UP government is not implementing the RTE act in totality to have 25% reservation for underprivileged children under the RTE Act. The Act has the potential to impact 6 lakhs underprivileged and poor children in Uttar Pradesh alone. If implemented honestly throughout India, it has potential to change the face of India by reducing the segregation in society. However, the report card of UP has been dismal with only 108 admissions in the last four years. Many elite and powerful schools have openly flouted the constitutional law by refusing such admissions. Also a constitutional government order is shielding many schools from the mandatory responsibility.
The elite City Montessori School has not only ignored the Lucknow District Magistrate’s orders to admit 31 such students in their school but has defied the RTE as well as Supreme Court’s landmark verdict on 12 April 2012 by challenging the DM’s order in the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court. They are violating not only the fundamental rights of the 31 children but also the apex court’s judgment.
RTE Act strives to reduce the segregation in the society by promoting social inclusion within classrooms. And if it is not implemented earnestly, the segregation will further grow, thus impacting the growth and overall development of all communities of India. When the government is acting for “Acche Din” and so called development, the silence over the issue raises concerns on their intentions and larger truth. The central government along with state government are expected to come out with their stand in the matter for all the children, i.e. future of Vibrant India, excluded from their own constitutional rights.
NAPM demands:-
1. Immediate implementation of the Act by the Uttar Pradesh government.
2. Action against the City Montessori School management and other private schools who refuse to extend the benefits of the RTE Act to many underprivileged children.
Do support the struggle for the poor’s Educational Rights:-
· Send mail to Chief Minister of UP stating your concerns at – [email protected], and send fax at: 0522-2236838
· UP CM twitter handle@CMOfficeUP
· Send SMS to DM, Lucknow at 09415005000
Medha Patkar – Narmada Bachao Andolan and the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM); Prafulla Samantara – Lok Shakti Abhiyan & Lingraj Azad –Samajwadi Janparishad, NAPM, Odisha; Dr. Sunilam, Aradhna Bhargava – Kisan Sangharsh Samiti &Meera – Narmada Bachao Andolan, NAPM, MP; Suniti SR, Suhas Kolhekar, Prasad Bagwe – NAPM, Maharashtra; Gabriele Dietrich, Geetha Ramakrishnan – Unorganised Sector Workers Federation, NAPM, TN; C R Neelkandan – NAPM Kerala; P Chennaiah &Ramakrishnan Raju – NAPM Andhra Pradesh, Arundhati Dhuru & Richa Singh –Sangtin Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, NAPM, UP; Sister Celia – Domestic Workers Union &Rukmini V P, Garment Labour Union, NAPM, Karnataka; Vimal Bhai – Matu Jan sangathan & Jabar Singh, NAPM, Uttarakhand; Anand Mazgaonkar, Krishnakant – Paryavaran Suraksh Samiti, NAPM Gujarat; Kamayani Swami, Ashish Ranjan – Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan & Mahendra Yadav – Kosi Navnirman Manch, NAPM Bihar; Faisal Khan, Khudai Khidmatgar, NAPM Haryana; Kailash Meena, NAPM Rajasthan; Amitava Mitra & Sujato Bhadra, NAPM West Bengal; B S Rawat – Jan Sangharsh Vahini &Rajendra Ravi, Madhuresh Kumar and Kanika Sharma – NAPM, Delhi
प्रेस रिलीज
