Report on Dharna before Education Director (MCD), August 2009

In the month of July, 2009 Action Aid India, Bawana, organized 15 admission camps at different focal locations and MCD Primary Schools of Bawana. During these camps it was noticed that teachers and Principals of different schools refusing to take admissions and asking several documents like Date of Birth certificate, Address proof, Affidavit etc. while these documents are not necessary for admission in primary school as per departmental guidelines and every child has Right to free and compulsory education under Article 21 A of the constitution.

Therefore we spread awareness among the parents to file complaints against schools who are denying admissions of their child. As a result around 85 complaints were generated and filed before Smt. Premlata Kataria, Education Director (MCD). But after the passing of 15 to 20 days no action was taken by Education Director (MCD) on the complaints. So a dharna was organized before the office of Education Director (Primary Education) at Nigam Bhawan, Kashmere Gate, Delhi to protest on this issue.

On 7th August, 2009 around 50 parents with their children and representatives of Pardarshita, Navjyoti India Foundation, A.V Baliga Trust were gathered and went to Nigam Bhawan to sit on Dharna before Smt. Premlata Kataria, Education Director (MCD).

She denied meeting the aggrieved parents but all parents were rigid to meet with her to ensure admission of their child. Finally Education Director (MCD) ready to meet with parents. She gave a letter to people regarding ensuring admission of every child in MCD primary school and directed the D.E.O, Narela Zone to look this matter directly.

As a result of this protest now MCD Schools of Bawana are not refusing admission to any child and more than 100 children are directly benefited from this Dharna. Out of which 55 are Muslims and 25 are girl children.

 

This issue was discussed in the alliance building meeting also and most of the organizations stated that they are also facing such problems in getting the admission of the child in their respective areas, so during Dharna most of the organizations working in North West Delhi participated and had a positive result.

Report on Dharna organized against the amendment of RTI Act on 14th Nov, 09 at Jantar Mantar

As we all know that our work is right based and Right to Information Act has proved to be an effective tool, and the RTI Act has just completed 4 years. In these four years, the Act has been used extensively by citizens to put out information related to public policy, human rights issues and systemic inefficiencies in the public domain. Yet, the Government of India is proposing new amendments to the RTI Act. These amendments are not to strengthen the law or improve its implementation. On the contrary, and despite repeated assurances from the Minister, DOPT and the Government of India , the proposed amendments, if introduced, will emasculate the RTI Act.

Therefore NCPRI and other citizen groups are organizing a protest at Jantar Mantar on 14th Nov’09. Therefore for opposing the proposal to weaken the Right to Information Act by amending it within the first four years of its implementation, people from 10 states across the country including the people from Seema Puri & Bawana gathered together at Jantar Mantar for a day long dharna to warn the government against bringing any amendments.

Several people’s groups and organizations and individuals and users of the RTI Act gathered at jantar mantar to support this dharna organised by the National Campaign for People’s Right to information. Amongst those present were -Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, social activist Aruna Roy, economist Jean Dreze, CPI General Secretary D Raja, RTI activist Shekhar Singh, renowned theatre personality Tripurari Sharma, Nikhil Dey and Swami Agnivesh of the ‘Bandhu Mukti Morcha’. A collective demand was made to not amend the Act but to implement it properly.

At the beginning of the dharna, participants observed a two minute silence for noted journalist and RTI activist Prabhash Joshi. Social activist and Magsaysay award winner Aruna Roy stated that by not allowing for any amendments to the RTI Act, we will be paying a true tribute to Prabhash Joshi. Roy said that in order to thwart any move to amend the RTI Act, there was a need to keep up a sustained and widespread people’s movement. She said that the RTI Act has not even reached every citizen of India today and the government is already wary of the Act, and that amending the RTI Act would be a step towards weakening it.

People from urban and rural Delhi and Rajasthan participated in the dharna in large numbers. Groups from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand were also present. On this occasion, Participants had brought several copies of the letter opposing amendments signed by more people of their respective states and organisations and expressed their opinion through slogans like ‘Say No to RTI Amendments’.

Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, while addressing the dharna participants, stated: “This legislation has come into force through people’s movements. It has actually made people the supreme force in the democracy. There is no need for amendments in the Act. Development economist Professor Jean Dreze said that rather than limiting the Act by amending it, its scope should be extended to include the private sector and bank transactions. CPI General Secretary D Raja said that in the year 2006 as well, the Central

government had tried to amend the Act, an attempt that was foiled by people’s groups fighting for the expansion of democratic spaces. “Once again the government intends to amend this effective legislation, and this time, too, people’s campaigns and groups will come together to oppose the amendments,” said Raja. He also said that the current proposal reflects the government’s intentions towards an open and transparent system of governance. He said that the Right to Information is essential for any democracy, especially because it enables the participation of ordinary citizens.

Swami Agnivesh of the Bandhua Mukti Morcha asserted that any effort to weaken or amend the RTI is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. He said the government’s attempt to amend the law is like robbing the RTI of its letter and spirit. Professor Shekhar Singh, environmentalist and founder member of the NCPRI, said that the issue of amendments should be treated with gravity and that any attempt to amend the Act should be opposed tooth and nail.

The day long dharna ended with the participants affirming that if the government goes ahead with the amendments to the RTI without wide public Discussion and debate, we will gather once again in large numbers at Jantar Mantar to oppose any move by the government to weaken the RTI Act.

My association with Pardarshita

I have known Rajivji since about five years now. That time, I was working with The Times of India and wanted to write a story on the utility of RTI in the life of common man. Travelling to Seemapuri (East Delhi) was a difficult proposition that time because there was no connectivity through metro, unlike today. So a long bus ride from ITO, followed by enquiries here and there, got me straight to Parivartan's small but famous one-room office. I remember there was one computer tucked away in a corner of a big room. About 4-5 people worked around it, sometimes in notebooks, sometimes on the desktop. I distinctly remember one of them as a young girl, who later told me someone had put a blade in her neck because she wouldn't stop venturing out and working for the community... These were some of the first impressions of the people I was going to associate with a lot more in the future.

So, after interviewing some people who benefitted from RTIs that Parivartan helped them file, like someone got their voter I-card, someone could afford to get their kid in school, that story did finally come out. It was hugely appreciated and became my first, and most memorable byline (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMDUvMDgvMTcjQXIwMDIwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom).

Since then, whenever possible, we have collaborated on many occasions, even though Rajivji and few others now call themselves members of an offshoot organisation- Pardarshita. No matter what they call themselves, these people and their relentless fight against a corrupt system remains unwavered.

One time, we went for a survey of schools run by the Delhi Government in the South Delhi Zone to contrast ground realities there with government schools of East Delhi, more specifically, to inspect whether the school notice boards displayed information about money due to students of EWS quota, whether they were getting free books and uniforms as per the Central Information Commission (CIC) order etc. In East Delhi, I was told, there may not even be a concrete school building, even through papers would indicate a properly running school! 'Many times,' my friend Ritu added, 'a panic attack would grip school administration a day before inspection by some higher-ups. School staff would ensure that flower pots appeared outside the main gate, descrepit roofs got a fan or two, maybe a light bulb if lucky, to pass off as a 'fully' functional government school!' In South Delhi, the state of  government schools was much better than in East Delhi, at least at a cursory glance. Of the 4-5 schools we inspected that day, most children said they were getting free uniforms and books or at least partly, while the rest 'was due' in future. As far as display of information was concerned, at least three schools displayed some information, though not all of it and that too, scribbled on a blackboard with chalk instead of beign displayed on hard boards as per the CIC order.

Anyway, what also struck me most, other than the scope for corruption worth crores of rupees by school administrations, in one school, the principal authoritatively called out to few senior girls, probably the class monitors, to serve us biscuits and tea, almost like it was part of their job as a student. I was left wondering what they were teaching their girls anyway. That hypothetically, even if all schools, everywhere, get every piece of physical infrastructure in place, what if every poor student got his/her due towards attaining a school degree, what if teachers start attending school and teaching delligently, does it mean they’ll churn out ‘thinkers’ of tomorrow? Agreed, it’s important to have a room to teach in, benches to sit on and blackboards to write on, water, electricity etc, besides children who can afford to sit in those classes, with books to read, but all this for what? In the Indian education system, Indians are being ‘trained’, not ‘educated,’ a big lesson from 3-Idiots, if you have seen the film.

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.