HEAVY PENALTY PAID BY BPL CARD HOLDERS DUE TO MODERNISATION OF FOOD & SUPPLY DEPARTMENT

Dear friends,

This is very unfortunate that on the one hand  food grains are rotting in godowns while on other, thousands of people who have BPL and Antodaya ration cards are not getting ration.

The Assistant Commissioner of North East District has stated before the Central Information Commission:  “because of an error in their computer program, thousands of BPL persons, who are eligible for getting ration, have been denied ration supplies.”  As a result of departmental fault ,people are not getting ration for last five months despite their ration cards.

Since August 2010, the ration supply for thousands of BPL& Antodaya card holders at 70 Circles of Delhi has stopped suddenly. On inquiry, the people affected were told the following at their respective Circle Offices: "the Head Quarter has cancelled the cards; we do not know the reason for the same.” 

The Food & Supply Department had not sent any notice for the cancellation of cards and all of a sudden, when people went to withdraw ration from the FPS shop they were told that their cards are cancelled.

In Seema Puri Constituency, 707 BPL & Antodaya cards were cancelled and when some of the card holders sought reasons for cancellation of their cards under the RTI Act, then the Public Information officer did not provide  any explanation for their cancellation. 

When the matter reached CIC,  at the time of hearing, the PIO gave the list of cancelled 707 BPL & Antodaya Ration Card Holders and informed the Commission that due to the technical fault of computer the BPL & Antodaya Cards throughout Delhi has been cancelled.

The Hon’ble Commissioner directed the PIO to provide compensation of Rs.2000 to the information seekers for not providing the information in set time limit. The Commission also directed the Food Commissioner to provide reasons why the ration has not been provided to the appellants. 

Warm Regards

Rajiv Kumar

Pardarshita

F-185,186 New Seema Puri

Delhi-110095

Ph: 01122356476, 9899358835

Blog:http://pardarshita.blogspot.com
Email: pardarshita_india@yahoo.com

DCPCR working under pressure of Delhi Government

In the month of May 2010, many parents of New Seema Puri approached Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya (SKV), New Seema Puri with a written request for admission of their children. The Vice Principal of SKV denied admission to these children stating, in writing, that 'there is no seat available in the school, therefore admission cannot be given' to them.

 

The Right to Education Act 2009 (RTE) implemented since April 1 2010 ensures free and compulsory elementary education to all children. So now, it is the right of every child to get admission to school. A Commission in Delhi has also been set up under the Act for ensuring the rights of children. Hence it is the responsibility of the Delhi Commission for Protection of Childs Rights (DCPCR) to ensure the children get admitted to school.

 

A complaint was filed with DCPCR regarding the written denial for the admission of these children by the vice principal of the school. The Commission directed the Directorate of Education to admit these children or otherwise action would be taken against Department.

 

However, it is extremely surprising that after four months, DCPCR has sent a letter on September 1 2010 stating that “admission to these children cannot be given in SKV, New Seema Puri because of non-availability of seats in the school. The parents of these children are advised to take admission in other neighborhood schools.”

 

But, the fact is that in this particular SKV, there are 60-80 students who are studying in a single section of many classes. 

Now, four months have passed and the admissions are closed, question is where will these children study. Other questions we ask are:

 

• For whom is this Commission functioning - the GOVERNMENT or the CHILDREN?
• Is this Commission bound to work under pressure of the Government?
• Are the appointments being made just to oblige the people who are closer to the Government?
• Who is responsible for spoiling one year of these children?
• How will the children be compensated for this one year's loss?

Rajiv Kumar

Pardarshita

F-185,186 New Seema Puri

Delhi-110095

Ph: 011-22356476, 9899358835

Email: pardarshita_india@yahoo.com 

Circular by education dept. regarding refund of Pupil welfare fund

Dear Friend

Greetings!

As we know that Right to Education has enacted since April 2010 which states that “Every child between the ages of 6 to 14 years has the right to free and compulsory education.” Despite of this the Delhi govt. has collected charges from students in the name of Parents Teacher Association and Pupil Welfare Fund. Therefore in this matter Pardarshita had filed a PIL in Delhi High Court. Hon’ble High Court has issued notice to Delhi Govt. on 9^th July’10 and next hearing is scheduled on 20^th Sept’10.

As a result of this PIL the Education Department has issued a circular to discontinue the collection of Pupil Welfare Fund up to class VIII w.e.f. academic session 2010-2011.

Not only this all the Head of Govt/Govt Aided schools are directed to refund the p.w.f. to students under proper receipt. The Delhi Govt. has awakened from long sleep and  has taken this initiative by  issuing the circular, we appreciate this; but we are also focusing that charges collected for PTA should be returned and should not be collected in future.

The circular of Education Department is enclosed with, kindly communicate this order among the parents and students and ensure that the school must return this amount to parents.

In Solidarity

Pardarshita

F-185,186 New Seema Puri

Delhi-110095

Ph: 01122356476, 9899358835

Blog:http://pardarshita.blogspot.com
Email: pardarshita_india@yahoo.com

Power of RTI

Dear Friends

Greetings!

Today around 25 children of SKV & GBSSS, J& K Block Dilshad Garden approached to our office and told us that they have secured D grade in English in class X examinations and the school authorities have given them Sanskrit forcibly in class XI, and despite of making several requests the principal is not giving them English in XIth class. The principal stated that we have been ordered from the higher Authorities that the students who secured D Grade in English should not be given English subject in class XI. When the parents asked for the orders, the principal stated the orders are not for the public it is for the principals only. More over as per the sec 4 (1)b, c) of RTI Act “all Public Authority have to publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies of announcing the decisions which effect the public; and has to provide reasons for its administrative or quasi judicial decisions to affected person;” therefore the department as well as the school authorities have to show & display the guideline for admission in public domain. Therefore a complaint to Central Information Commission for not following the Act has been drafted (Please see annexure 1).

We have also drafted individual complaints in the name of Education Director and Deputy Director for all the students that the school is not giving English subject in class XI. (Please see Annexure 2).

All the students approached to school to submit CIC complaint as well as application. As soon as the principal read the complaints she immediately called us. The principal stated that these students have secured less marks in English therefore they cannot be given English subject in Class XI, because it will effect to our result in long term. So we will only give Sanskrit to these students, there is no such order from the Director.

After that we asked the Principals to submit the applications. Then the principal stated that don’t submit these applications, we will give admission to these students only please don’t tell to other students. We stated that this is injustice with the students who are willing to take English as main subject in class XI. In the end the principals of both the schools got agreed to revise the admission list and are ready to give English subject to all the students who have been given Sanskrit forcibly.

In Solidarity

Pardarshita

F-185,186 New Seema Puri

Delhi-110095

Ph: 01122356476, 9899358835

Blog:http://pardarshita.blogspot.com

Email: pardarshita_india@yahoo.com

Notice issued by Delhi High Court to Delhi Govt. against violation of RTE ACT

Article 21 A of Constitution states that “Every child between the ages of 6 to 14 years has the right to free and compulsory education.” Not only this RTE Act has also been enacted since 1st April 2010 and according to Section 3 (1) & 3(2) of Right to Education Act

Section 3(1)“Every child of age of six to fourteen years shall have a right to free and compulsory education in a neighborhood school till completion of elementary education”

Section 3(2)“no child shall be liable to pay any kind of fee or charges or expenses which may prevent him/her from pursuing and completing the elementary education”.

But surprisingly, Government schools Authorities, who are supposed to be aware of this Act, are not abiding by the same. Principals of Government Schools are collecting Rs 97 from the students of Class I to VIII in the name of Parents Teachers Association Fund and Pupil Welfare Fund. This is not one time collection but the students have to pay Rs 45 quarterly for pupil Welfare Fund

When such violations came to the notice of Pardarshita by the students, then more than 500 students were assisted by Pardarshita in raising their voice against violation. A complaint with the Delhi Govt. and Chairperson of NCPCR and DCPCR was filed. More than three months have been passed but no action by any of the Authority has been taken so far. Therefore Pardarshita has filed a PIL in Delhi High Court with the help of Divya Jyoti Jaipuriar, Advocate HRLN for violation of RTE Act and today Hon’ble High Court has issued notice to Delhi Govt. in this matter.

With Regards

Rajiv Kumar

Pardarshita

F-185,186 New Seema Puri

Delhi-110095

Ph: 01122356476, 9899358835

Blog:http://pardarshita.blogspot.com

Email: pardarshita_india@yahoo.com

Right to Information Act 2005

Right to Information Act 2005 (online)

Pardarshita filed writ petition with the support of HRLN in High Court for not issuing renewed BPL cards

Dear Friends

Greetings!

We would like to share the progress which has been done after the Bawana residents received rejection letter from the Food & supply Department in the month of August’09.

As this had never happened in the history of PDS that the people who had applied for ration card, get rejection letter from the department once their applications get rejected by the department.

All the aggrieved people filed appeal with the Assistant Commissioner of Food & supply department, but the appellate authority neither called the people for hearing nor sent any reply.

As a result, this matter was persuaded in the High Court. The high Court has accepted the case. The Court has issued notice to the Department and the proceedings are in process.

PDS Control Order 2001 section 11(2) states that “Any person aggrieved by an order of the designated authority denying the issue or renewal of a ration card or cancellation of the ration card may appeal to the Appellate Authority within thirty days of the date of receipt of the order”, but it had never happened in the history of PDS.

In 2007 around 4.4 lac people of Delhi applied for the renewal of their BPL ration cards.

Till 2009 around 1.25 lac people neither get their renewed ration cards back from the department nor get any information regarding the status of their cards. Whenever they go to their respective circle offices to enquire about the status of their renewed ration cards, they only get bad words from the employees of Circle office.

Pardarshita supported the people of Bawana in filing the RTI application to know the status of their ration cards. This resulted in issuing of Rejection letters to the people not only in Bawana but also in other District of Delhi.

When the people received the rejection letter with the reason for rejection, they found that the reason which the department has mentioned for rejecting the renewal of ration card is completely wrong.

Therefore people appealed before the appellate authority U/s 11(2) of PDS Control Order 2001, but the Appellate Authority neither sent any reply to complainant nor conducted any hearing.

Thereafter Pardarshita filed the Writ Petition in High Court with the help of HRLN. The High Court accepted the petition and issued notice to the Food & Supply Department on 23rd Feb’10. The hearing is scheduled on 11th March’10.

With Warm Regards

Ritu MehraWrit Petition against Food & Supply Dept. for not issuing Renewed BPL card.