Bikaner : More than 21 thousand daughters of the state studying in private schools under RTE are looking at the state government for reimbursement of last year’s school fees. These daughters who studied in private schools till 8th under RTE are pursuing further studies in the same private schools. The problem is more for those parents who showed courage to educate their daughter in a private school with fees higher than their financial status. They have not received the full school fees from the government even after a year. According to the information, about Rs 15 crore of fees is pending in the state. The previous Congress government had announced in the budget on 21 March 2022 to reimburse the fees to the girls studying free of cost till 8th in private schools under RTE if they continue their studies in private schools till 12th. In this, the fee of the girl student studying in a private school was said to be reimbursed in two installments during the education session.
In the academic session 2023-24, the girls admitted under RTE passed 8th and reached 9th. Now these girls are studying in class 10th in the academic session 2024-25. Private schools are demanding the outstanding fees of the previous year from them. Families who are not able to pay the fees are facing the situation of discontinuing their daughter’s education. The education department has paid one installment of some students, while some students have not been paid a single installment.
Indira Mahila Shakti Fund has been created
The then Congress government had announced to help students to study from 9th to 12th after completing 8th standard in private schools under RTE. For this, Indira Mahila Shakti Nidhi was formed. In this, the government only reimburses the fees equal to the fixed unit cost of the private school under RTE. Now the education department is saying that the students can be paid only when the government puts money in Indira Shakti Nidhi.
Last year’s fees are also pending
After the start of the new session, private schools are pressuring students to pay the outstanding fees of the previous session. However, private schools are charging two to three times the fees received from the government. This difference amount is also to be paid by the parents.
Parents reached the directorate and also went to the High Court
The parent of a student studying in a reputed private school of Sri Ganganagar under this scheme asked the Education Department as to how much fee he has to pay to the school and when. The schools are demanding more fee than the amount that the government will reimburse. The department did not give any answer to this. When the parent filed a petition in the High Court Jodhpur, the Education Department deposited one installment in his account. The parent of a student filed a complaint against a private school of Bikaner that the school is not giving his daughter’s mark sheet and TC. The school is refusing to do so without paying the outstanding fees. The government has not yet given the second installment of fee reimbursement. He himself is not able to pay the outstanding fees.
Government portal is telling the truth
Information about Indira Mahila Shakti Nidhi is displayed on the portal of the School Education Department. It displays the announcement of 21 March 2022 by the Chief Minister. Also, instead of information about the beneficiary girl students under the scheme, the number of eligible girls is stated to be 21 thousand 32. The number of girl students receiving payment is shown as zero.
Under this scheme, this arrangement
The government will pay the girl students studying in class 9 and 10 under RTE by adding 10 percent to the unit cost (reimbursement amount) prescribed under RTE every year. In class 11 and 12, 20 percent will be added to the unit cost. The government will pay one installment after four months in the academic session and the second installment by the end of the session. The first installment has been paid to 259 girl students of Bikaner district for the academic session 2023-24. The payment of their second installment is pending. The payment will be made as soon as the budget is received from the government.
