‘Why no money for underprivileged in private schools for books, uniform?’

The money, promised by the government in a law enacted last year, is meant for students from the poor strata, enrolled in plush private schools, to buy school uniform and books.

On November 5, the Delhi High Court will hear an application seeking judicial intervention into why the government’s failure so far to “disburse” money for uniforms and books despite penning the Delhi School Education (Free Seats for Students Belonging to Economically Weaker Sections) Order, 2006.

The law came into force in January 2007 after a legal battle since 2004. The High Court directed “several hundred unaided, recognised private schools in Delhi” functioning on public land given by the DDA to open its doors to provide financially backward students free seats. The judgment, later converted into a law by the government, said, “Students admitted against free seats shall get financial assistance, at par with the students of government schools, for expenditure on account of uniform and books.”

As per an application filed by advocate Ashok Agarwal, the Delhi government’s Education Secretary ought to have disbursed the amount to students through heads of the schools concerned. But, “almost seven months since commencement of the academic year 2008-09, the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) students have not received any money,” it says.

The applicant, Ashok Agarwal, spearheaded the “three-year PIL campaign” for free-ship in the High Court.

Of 334 private schools with 21,394 earmarked EWS seats, 8,607 poor students have been admitted in 2008-09 session, says details submitted in High Court by the government in September.

“It is estimated that not less than 30,000 students are presently studying in different classes in these 384 unaided recognised private schools under the EWS quota,” Agarwal said. As per the government’s 2006 order, all these schools, he said, are obliged to reserve 20 per cent seats for EWS students. “If this provision is fully implemented, it is estimated that more than 1.5 lakh students would benefit.”

On the difference in number of schools in which students are to benefit from the government grant, Aggarwal said only 334 of the 384 institutions given land by the DDA have submitted details of students admitted through EWS quota. The government, he said, had set aside Rs 3 crore for this project.

Agarwal said he went forward with his decision to approach the court after the Education Secretary failed to respond to his letter — sent on October 23 — seeking clarification about the “delay” in granting the aid money.

Najimi Waziri, senior counsel of Delhi government, said, “I am unable to comment on the issue now. We will say our part in the court.”

Newsline could not Education minister Arvinder Singh Lovely despite repeated attempts.

FIGURE IT OUT
GOVT SAYS 334 private schools have 21,394 seats earmarked for poor students 8,607 EWS category students admitted in 2008-09
ASHOK AGGARWAL SAYS 30,000 (approx) EWS students in 384 private schools. As per government’s 2006 order, all these schools are obliged to reserve 20 per cent seats for EWS