Updates on Financial Aid, March 2009

Accordance to the notification dated 25/1/07 the students admitted against free seats in such school shall get financial assistance, at par with the students of Government school, for expenditure on account of uniform and books; and the financial assistance referred to in first proviso shall be reimbursed by the Education Department and disbursed through the Head of School.

But till December 2008 nothing was done neither at the level of Court nor at the level of education department. In the month of December a meeting was conducted with the parents whose children were admitted under EWS quota in public schools and the parents decided to file individual RTI application for seeking the status of reimbursement in lieu of Books and uniform, and around 122 parents filed RTI application in East, North East and south West A District.

Now the students have received a cheque of Rs. 580/- for primary and Rs.630 for middle classes.

We would also like to share that the maximum number of admission has been done in the district of East & North East where Pardarshita has been working consistently for last couple of years.

Updates for the admission under EWS quota, April 2008

Dear friend

Greetings!

Shakila, a labourer, who hails from a jhuggi cluster; works in a factory to raise her two children. Her husband lives in another state and does not provide any financial support for the upbringing of the children.

In the beginning of this year when volunteers of Pardarshita initiated mobilizing people for admission under EWS quota, she also realized that despite of her low status in the society her children can avail better quality of education. After being aware of this information, she had approached 5 schools (Daya nand Model School, Arwachin Bharti Bhawan, New Oxford Public school, Siddhartha International School, Vivekanand Public school) where she was insulted by the gatekeepers and was not allowed to enter the school for the admission forms.

She had filed a complaint against these schools with the office of Deputy Director of Education (DDE) but no action was taken for a long period of three months. But suddenly in the month of April her child got admission in three public schools (New Oxford Public school, Daya nand Model School and Vivekanand Public school) and some officials from Education Department (East District) had visited her and requested her to withdraw her complaint.

This had not only happened with Shakila, but this had happened with more than 100 parents who were seeking admissions of their wards in public schools under this quota and were denied by the school authorities. The officials who used to sit in their air conditioned offices and hardly bothered to take any action against the complaints now have come out of their air conditioned rooms and started visiting the complainants. Moreover the principals from the schools which had taken money for forms under this scheme have visited the slum and returned their money.

Further it has been noticed that many big schools like DAV have offered bribe to the parents who have filed complaint against their schools and requested the parents kindly withdraw their complaint, but the parents refused to take a single penny.

This has become possible because during the admission process around 1000 parents called up on pardarshita helpline and discussed about their problems which they were facing in admission process. They were assisted by Pardarshita in filing the written complaints with director and deputy director of education. When all these complaints brought under the notice of Hon’ble High court and thereafter the proactive decision given by Hon’ble High Court against these defaulted schools by issuing notice for contempt of Court. Further the high Court has stated on 3rd April 2008 before issuing contempt notice to defaulted schools, it is required to take strict action against some officials of education department.

With Warm Regards,

Ritu Mehra

Updates for the admission under EWS quota, March 2008

Dear Asha /Seattle/Munich/Delhi members,

Here is a latest update on the Admissions. The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued contempt of court notices to as many as 52 private schools here for refusing free admissions to students belonging to economically weaker sections of society despite giving affidavits to this effect to the Court last year. The links of the news coverage is also given in the mail below. A good move in all what has been happening on this front so far. Let's hope that these actions are not covering up a larger and dirtier scheme of the Pvt Schools. Though Ritu just called to tell that the pvt schools are now calling up parents to get the children admitted in their schools.... Great work done by Mr Ashok Agrawal, and the Pardarshita team - Rajiv, Ritu, Rekha... All the updates are now present on the project website: http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=678 From Asha's perspective, I think we might need to take this issue up and build some opinion around it in our area of influence. Start some debates and discussions around it. Right to Information applications were filed in other states in India about the existance of the clause in other states in India. Some responses have started coming in - follow ups have to be done. Please cascade this info as appropriate -Uday -- "Desh badalna hai toh pehele khud ko badlo" http://www.ashanet.org/projects-new/documents/678/listofschoolwhichwasfiledincourt.xls ----- Weitergeleitete Mail ---- Gesendet: Donnerstag, den 13. März 2008, 22:37:56 Uhr Betreff: Up dates for the admission under EWS quota Dear Friend Greetings There has been a great development in the drive for admission under EWS quota. It had been noticed that the set drive was not giving desired results. On pardarshita helpline the parents who had approached with their grievances for not getting the forms from the schools, so we had advised those parents that they should file their complaints in the office of their district deputy director of education or director of education. More than 500 complaints against 54 schools have been filed in the department of education but no action has been taken by the department. All these complaints were brought under notice of Hon’ble High court during the hearing held on 19.2.08.and with the result of this High Court had ordered the education department to file the status report of all these complaints. The education department has submitted the status report on 11.3.08. On dated 12.3.08 hearing was conducted regarding this matter and the Hon’ble Court has ordered to issue a contempt notice against these defaulted schools. Advocate Sh. Ashok Aggarwal (Social Jurist) has played an important role in achieving such success, because of their support all matter was brought under the notice of Hon’ble Court . We and all parents are grate ful to them. . Many leading news papers have covered this; we are enclosing the links of the paper as well as the list of schools against which the Hon’ble court has issued notice for contempt of Court With regards Rajiv

http://www.kalingatimes.com/national_news/news2/20080312-students.htm/news2/20080312-students.htm

http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=34011 http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20080312/908077.html http://www.indiaedunews.net/Delhi/Notices_to_52_Delhi_schools_for_not_admitting_poor_students_3770/ http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/13/stories/2008031354470400.htm http://in.news.yahoo.com/indiaabroad/20080312/r_t_ians_nl_general/tnl-notices-to-52-delhi-schools-for-not-b9e311f.html

http://www.newdelhinews.net/story/336845

http://epaper.hindustandainik.com/

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=CAP&login=default&AW=1205421040671

Additional Information- LIST of schools, filed in Court 

http://www.ashanet.org/projects-new/documents/678/listofschoolwhichwasfiledincourt.xlshoolwhichwasfiledincourt.xls

Updates for the admission under EWS quota, Feb 2008

Dear Friends,

From our previous mails as you perhaps may be aware about the problems that parents from Economically Weaker Section are facing for the admission of their wards; in public schools

Till now more than 500 complaints of around 45 public schools from different districts of Delhi have been filed with the Education Department and a copy of the same has also been filed with the office of Education Secretary by Pardarshita with a request to take action against those schools for which the complaints have been submitted in her office and according to education notification kindly forward the registration forms to the concerned schools.

In the same context we have been trying to take appointment with the Education Secretary since 25th January2008. We tried to contact her through email, fax and made several calls in her office for several times, but we have not been able to get the appointment till date.

We are hereby enclosing the compiled data of the complaints.

With warm regards

Ritu Mehra 9899358835

PARDARSHITA              

Compiled data of the complaints filed by parents

1 St. Lawrence School, Dilshad Garden North East

The school informed that we are not giving admission to the children belonging to EWS, but the parents can enquire in January and when the parents approached in the month of January they were informed that we don’t give admission under EWS quota. Simultaneously they informed to some parents that our quota for EWS is full.

For the last three years this school has not given registration forms under EWS

2 Nutan Vidya Mandir, Dilshad Garden North East

The school refused to give the registration forms beyond the entry level. The residence of the applicant was with in the radius of 1-1.5 km but the school authorities did not issue the registration forms. Despite of showing the income certificate issued by the SDM, the school authorities refused to accept the registration forms and asked them to give ration card.

3 Gyan Deep School, Yamuna Vihar North East

School was not aware of EWS admissions. They informed the parents that they do not have any forms for EWS.

4 Siddhartha International School, Dilshad Garden North East

The school asked the parents why they want to get their child study in this school, somehow if they were able to get their child admitted in Public School but next year your child will be expelled from the school. They stated that we do not give registration forms to poor. Although the school in dilshad garden had been given land from the Govt. yet the authorities misguide the parents that you can approach to our other branch in Loni for the admission under EWS quota, which is around four km away from the residence of the willing parents.

5 Hans Raj Samarak School North East

Despite of instuctions from the court that reg forms will be distributed from 15th Dec to 31st Dec the forms were not given to parents and different dates were given to parents and when the parents approached to school on those mentioned dates they denied to give the forms

6 Green Ways Sr.Sec. School North East

The school stated that we do not give form for the children belonging to EWS category you can go to some other school.

To some parents the authorities stated that our seats are full for EWS Quota.

7 Flora Dales Public School North East

As it is clearly mentioned in orders of Education department that no fees would be charged from the parents who are seeking admission under this quota yet the authorities asked the parents until unless you will pay the fees we wont give you any forms

8 Mother Teresa Public School East

Parents were not allowed to enter the school, some were given different dates but when the parents went to school, the authorities denied to give the form and stated that we do not give any forms to the poor

9 Sai Memorial School East

The school stated that we do not have any seats and did not give the forms

10 Mayur Public School East

Authorities asked for unnecessary documents like: electricity/water bills, those who produced income certificate they were asked for ration cards. One of the parent produce pan card but the authorities stated that you do not fall under EWS category. Forms were not given to many parents despite of producing all the required documents

11 Mayo International School East

Neither the acknowledgements were not given to parents nor were they informed about the date of draw.

12 Lovely Public School East

Despite of order from the court that reg. forms will be distributed from 15th Dec to 31st Dec the forms were not given to parents

13 DAV School, Sreshtha Vihar East

The school stated that we do not give any forms to poor

14 DAV School, Mausam Vihar East

The school stated that we don’t have seats for EWS

15 Bal Mandir Sr. Sec School East

The school stated that we do not have forms you can take the reg. forms from some other school

16 Preet Public School East

The forms were not given to parents and they were told to come after 1 month

17 ASN Public School East

The parents were not allowed to enter the school and forms were not given to parents

18 Arwachin Bharti Bhawan, Vivek Vihar East

Neither the acknowledgement was given to parents nor they were informed about the date of draw.

19 New Oxford School East

The school stated that we do not have forms you can take the reg. forms from some other school

20 Bal Bhawan Public School East

The school stated that We don’t have seats in higher classes.

21 Modern Montasary Public School East

The authorities denied to give reg. form and asked the parents that if they want to get their child admitted than they have to purchase the forms

22 Bharti Public School East

The school stated that we do not give admission under EWS quota and in case if we give forms to you but your ward's admission would not be processed.

23 Universal Public School East

The school authorities gave different dates to parents and when the parents approached to school on those mentioned dates they denied to give the forms

24 Vivekanad Public School East

There is no seat for EWS in our school

25 Kamal Convent School West-B

The authorities informed that we do not give forms under EWS quota you can take forms from some other school

26 Banasthali School West-B

The school stated that we don’t have seats under EWS quota

27 St. Peter Convent School West-B

The school stated that we do not give any forms to children who live in jhuggies

28 St.Cicelia School West-B

The school stated that we do not give form for the children belonging to EWS category you can go to some other school.

29 Sachdeva International School West-B

The forms were not given to parents

30 Ved Vyas DAV School West-B

The parents were not allowed to enter the school and forms were not given to parents

31 Rama Krishna Sr. Sec. School West-B

The forms were not given to those parents who were having BPL ration cards.

32 Prerna Public School West-B

The forms were not given to those parents who were having BPL ration cards and asked for income certificate

33 Oxford Public School West-B

The school stated that we do not give any forms to children who live in jhuggies and simultaneously asked for income certificate.

34 New Delhi Public School West-B

The forms were not given to parents’ dispite of showing BPL ration card and income certificate.

35 Mamta Modern School West-B

The school stated that we do not have forms you can take the reg. forms from some other school

36 Kamal Public School West-B

Our seats are full and we do not give admissions under EWS quota.

37 Holy Inocent Public School West-B

Our seats are full and we do not give admissions under EWS quota.

38 Columbia Foundation Public School West-B

The forms were not given to those parents who were having BPL ration cards and asked for income certificate

39 Adarsh Public School West-B

The forms were not given to parents

40 Pusa Public School West-B

The school stated that we do not have forms you can take the reg. forms from some other school

41 Hill grove School south west A

Parents were asked to deposit Rs. 7000 for the admission under EWS quota

42 Green field School south west A

The authorities were not giving free reg. forms to parents of EWS category.

Updates for Admission under Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) Quota, Jan 2008

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Pardarshita!

Approximately 397 schools in Delhi have received land from the Government at subsidized rates on the condition that in return these schools reserve seats for the children of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in their schools. The allotment of land started since 1967 but none of the school followed the condition of Lease Deed. The worse part is that our Government did not take any action against this violation. This matter was highlighted when Social Jurist filed PIL in High Court and Hon’ble Court in its judgement stated that all the schools which had been given land by Govt. have to follow the condition of lease deed and simultaneously ordered Delhi Government to frame rules and guidelines for the admissions. http://164.100.51.18/dhcorder/dhcqrydisp_o.asp?pn=117969&yr=2004

In 2004 the rules were framed and since than the case is in High Court and in consecutive proceedings very good rules were framed. Despite of good orders it was not easy to take the admission. http://164.100.51.18/dhcorder/dhcqrydisp_j.asp?pn=2070&yr=2007

In last two years more than 500 children were admitted in these Public Schools and credit for these admissions goes to Right to Information Act only. In the light of these good orders we were expecting that it would be easier for the people to get their child admit in these schools for the current session.

In this direction we put our efforts and started a Help Line which was published in many leading News papers like Navbharat Times, Rashtriya Sahara, Amar Ujala. On this Help Line we are continuously getting many phone calls.

In collaboration with Delhi Government we were able to organise awareness camps in D C complexes and thousands of people approached to these camp to enquire about the process of admission.

The admission process started from 15th Dec07 and will last till 7th Jan08. But till today that is 5th Jan 08 most of the schools have not issued Registration Form to the parents. In this context hundreds of complaints have been filed in the Education Department. We were expecting that admission process would be smooth this year in comparison to last year, but the situation is quite reverse because of the hearing conducted in Supreme Court and the order which the Supreme Court has passed in favour of Public Schools. http://courtnic.nic.in/supremecourt/temp/pc%2012275-1227607p.txt

So what ever pressure was built on the schools and the department has vanished away. Now the schools are free to do admission at their own wish.

We have assisted people in filing the complaints in the office of Education Department also. Now your valuable suggestions could give a new direction for this issue.

With warm regards

Rajiv, Ritu and Rekha

PARDARSHITA