Big relief to poor and deprived children under RTE, read other decisions

Under the Right to Education Act (RTE) in the state, the government has removed a major obstacle in the admission of children belonging to poor and deprived sections in private schools. The Pushkar Singh Dhami cabinet has increased the reimbursement rate of tuition fee per child per month from Rs. 1383 to Rs. 1893 from the current academic session 2022-23. The increase in tuition fee by Rs 510 per month has paved the way for more number of students to take admission in private schools. Taking up the issue of fee reduction, they had started showing less interest in admission of children in private schools.

Decisions taken on 19 points in the meeting:
Decisions were taken on 19 points in the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the secretariat on Monday evening. The decisions of the cabinet were not briefed as the assembly session was declared. According to sources, the cabinet has made it mandatory to give admission to 25 percent children of deprived and weaker sections in private schools in the state under RTE. Under Section-12(2) of the Right to Education Act, 2009 and Rule-13(2) of the Uttarakhand Free and Compulsory Child Education Rules, 2011, per child per month fee is being reimbursed to private schools.

Decision to increase the amount of reimbursement to Rs.1893:
Till now reimbursement was being paid at the rate of Rs 1383 per month per student. The cabinet has decided to increase the amount of reimbursement to Rs.1893. Private schools have raised the issue of low reimbursement several times in the meeting with the top officials of the government and the education department. Due to non-action on the demand of increasing the reimbursement, many private schools had started reluctant to give admission to the children of weaker and deprived sections.
In the current academic session 2022-23, 33672 seats are reserved under RTE in private schools in 13 districts of the state. Out of these 19779 seats could be entered. 13,893 seats are being declared vacant. This decision of the cabinet has brought great relief to private schools, especially English medium schools. According to the system of RTE in the state, the number of children studying in private schools has reached almost one lakh. The decision of the cabinet will provide relief to all these children.

Major decisions of the cabinet:
Approval of the supplementary budget of 4867 crores for the current financial year 2022-23
An eight-storey green building will be constructed in Dehradun under the Smart City project, 70 departmental offices including the DM’s office will be operated in this building.
Indian soldiers and their brave women who have received gallantry awards will get free travel facility in the buses of Uttarakhand State Transport Corporation.
State of Uttarakhand (for remission of sentence of convicted prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by courts) permanent policy. Now the period of acquittal for men and women sentenced to life imprisonment will be 14 years and on getting parole will be 16 years.