NCPCR issues showcause notice to Bokaro DC

Bokaro: The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued a showcause notice to Bokaro deputy commissioner Kuldeep Choudhary for not acting on the former’s directive over a complaint of the violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act by the private schools of the district.
In February, the NCPCR received a complaint from the Jharkhand Abhivavak Sangh (JAS), a umbrella association of the parents of school-going children. In its complaint, the JAS claimed that the education department had identified only 510 students belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society in the 2021-22 academic calendar year under the RTE Act despite the 3,500 seats in 40 private schools reserved for the same. The JAS also claimed that the district RTE committee did not have any member of the parents’ associations.
Taking cognizance of the matter, the NCPCR asked Choudhary to furnish necessary details to the commission in February itself. With the district administration being non-compliant, the NCPCR issued a show-cause notice to the DC on May 5 and asked him to furnish details within 20 days, failing which he would be summoned for contempt proceedings.
“I have directed the district education officer to immediately take necessary action in this connection,” Choudhary told TOI.
Earlier on May 5, the Jharkhand education department had begun inspection of the enrollment registers of private schools for the 2022-23 academic year for a review of their admission of poor children in their respective institutes under the RTE Act. The private schools that refuse to accept poor children by making excuses will have to clarify their stand.