SOCIAL JURIST 478-479, Lawyers Chambers
A Civil Rights Group Tis Hazari Courts,
Western Wing, Delhi – 110054
Dated: 15-11-2006
To,
1. The Honble Chief Minister
Govt. of NCT of Delhi
Secretariat
New Delhi – 110002
2. The Secretary (Education)
Govt. of NCT of Delhi
Old Secretariat Building
Delhi 1100 54
Sub: Discriminatory and inhuman behaviour with the children and their parents enrolled in private schools under free seats
Madam,
We wish to bring your kind attention to the discriminatory and inhuman behaviour of private schools towards the children and their parents enrolled under free seats. The rude behaviour starts with the parents approaching private schools asking for admission forms under free seats. The parents are avoided with excuses like, the school is not covered under that category, the seats are full, bring your income certificate etc. One parent was even asked to bring the ownership papers of their house they are living in.
On November 10, 2006, we have received a complaint from Mr. Manoj Verma from Dakshin Puri whose daughter is studying in Amity School Saket, saying that his daughter is humiliated by repeatedly passing derogatory remarks and by treating her as beggars. The child is always reminded that she is from poor family and is humiliated on that ground.
We have received another complaint from Mr. Anil Mehra whose daughter was enrolled in Cambridge Foundation School, Rajori Garden. The letter is reproduced below and is self-explanatory. The letter written to us is:
Dear Sir,
This is with reference to our telephonic conversation regarding education of Weaker Section Student.
I have 2 children one is boy & other is girl. Main mehrauli phool mandi main kaam karta hu. Aur meri wife girls ko sillai sikhati hai aur ladies tailor ka kaam karti hai. Mera beta sarvodya govt. school, Rajouri garden main padhta hai. Main bade school ki fees pay nahi kar sakta. Per jab humain Government ki Weaker Section wali scheme ka pata chala to humne apni beti ko Cambridge Foundation School main admission karya hai. wo us school main IInd C main hai. Us time unhone admission le liya. Aaj usko waha padhtain hua do saal hoa hai. Aur in do saal main humne fees ke alawa aur jo development charges aur annual charges hai wo humne sabhi pay kiye . every month Ill pay them Rs. 140/- & aur har six month main Rs. 1100/-. But jab maine apka article main padha ki iss ke found aur tuition fees weaker section ke liye maaf hai. To maine ye school walon se confirm karne ki koshish ki. To unhone reply main humain kaha ki aap apni beti ko aur kahi padha lijiye. Next year main hum usko nahi padha sakte. School main humari beti ko aur bachon ki tarah hi sikhaya padhya jata hai but jab hum kisi bhi karan se principle ke pass jate tab humain ye ahsaas ho jata hai ki humari bachchi ko padhana unki majbori hai aur hum logo se baat karne ka tarika bilkul alag hota hai jisse ye realize hota hai ki kisi garib lo itane bade school main jane ya baat karne ke liye humara status nahi hai. Apni beti ke future ke liye ye ahsaas bhi humain bura nahi laga kyunki shayad ye sach hai. Per jab sakar humari madad karne ke liye itni achchi scheme chala rahi hai to hum apne maan samman se jayda apne bachain ko ahmiyat detain hai. Hum apni bachi ke bhavishya ke liye sab sahan kar sakte hai. Per agar school wale usko school se nikal denge to hum apne sapne kaise pure karenge. Hum apni beti ko ek ujwal bhavishya dena chahte hai. Hum usko iss kabil banana chahte hai ki kal wo har musibaton ka samna kar sake usko kisi ke aashrit na rehna pade. Ladki paraya dhan hai wo ek ghar ki neev hai. Agar neev majboot hogi to ghat majboot hoga. Aur us neev ko humain majboot karma hai per hum aarthik roop se aisa karne ke yogya nahi hai.
Ab aap hi bataiye hum aagain kya kare. Agar hum aur kuch aage karte hai to shayad school walan dabav main aakar usko school main padhne de. Per unka vaywhar humari beti ki taraf badal jayega. Iss liy hum kuch bhi karne se darte hai. Hum sab mushkil ka samna kar sakte hai per humari beti abhi bahut choti hai. Please ab aap hi humain suggest kijiye ki hum aage kya kare.
Anil Mehra
You are aware that Dr. Janki Rajan Committee constituted by the Govt. of Delhi has made important recommendations to deal with the problems like those referred to above. I understand that the Govt. has not yet taken any decision on the recommendations of Dr. Janka Rajan Committee, nor any steps to sensitize the private schools have been taken. You will appreciate that if the children admitted in the private schools under free seats are mal treated at the hands of the schools, the whole social objective of free seats in terms of condition of land allotment would be defeated.
It is, therefore, requested that the Govt. may take immediate steps in the light of the recommendations of Dr. Janki Rajan Committee and ensure that the children belonging to weaker sections of society are not mal treated by the schools.
Thanking you
Yours truly,
Ashok Agarwal, Advocate
Adviser
Social Jurist
M – 9811101923