More than 300 complaints regarding fee hikes in K'taka schools prompt action from Child Rights Panel
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has received numerous complaints this year from parents regarding abnormal fee hikes and unfair practices by several top private unaided schools in Bengaluru.
Most complaints relate to unjustified increases in school fees, lack of transparency in fee revisions, and pressure on parents to buy textbooks, uniforms, shoes, bags, and other materials from designated vendors. Following these complaints, the commission has issued notices to some of the schools, most of which are affiliated to the Central Board, Deccan Herald reported on Sunday.
Responding to the complaints, the commission has begun issuing notices. “We have received over 300 complaints this year and are taking action based on the seriousness of each case. On Wednesday, we issued notices to three schools run by a prestigious group in Central Bengaluru,” K. Naganna Gowda, chairperson of the commission, was quoted as saying by DH.
He added that the commission will write to the Commissioner for School Education to seek further action against institutions found violating provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
As per norms, private schools are allowed to increase fees by 10 to 12 percent annually. However, some schools have reportedly hiked fees by as much as 40 percent this year. "We have also registered a few suo motu complaints based on media reports about abnormal fee hikes. The government should take the issue of fee fixation seriously and monitor schools to determine the basis on which fees are being raised," Gowda said.
The commission is also reviewing complaints alleging that schools have harassed parents and punished children when requests were made for transfer certificates. In some cases, schools have reportedly withheld transfer certificates unless parents cleared the full year’s fees. Few complaints even allege instances of corporal punishment.
"We are verifying such cases, and if the allegations are proved during inquiry, we will recommend action as per the RTE Act," Gowda assured.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
