10 out of 26 people on hunger strike admitted to hospital, but still no commitment from govt on introducing law to regulate pvt school fees
10 out of 26 people on hunger strike admitted to hospital, but still no commitment from govt on introducing law to regulate pvt school feesFor six days now, 16 parents of schoolchildren have gone without food and sufficient sleep at Mumbai's Azad Maidan to press for a law to regulate private school fees. And yet, the parents on hunger strike allege, what they have to show for their efforts is nothing but empty promises from a government that barely cares for them.
Somebody listen to us: Parents have been on a hunger strike at Azad
Maidan for the last six days in Mumbai to press for a fee regulation lawOn April 13, a group of parents and teachers of children studying in private schools began a hunger strike demanding the government introduce the fee regulation law it had promised a few months ago to bring the fee hikes at private unaided schools under control. The group has also demanded that salaries of teachers in private schools should also be revised in accordance with the Sixth Pay Commission.
The parents are now complaining that despite 10 people getting admitted to hospital owing to breathlessness, fatigue and chest pain, and many more risking their health to dangerous levels, the government is not interested in giving them a proper hearing.
No commitment"The Education Minister had sent a representative to meet us who said that the act was in the process of being drafted and will be tabled soon, but we couldn't get him to commit to a definite timeframe. He also refused to discuss specifics, including a clause to file criminal complaints against schools that take donations, collect capitation fees or don't follow clauses of the RTE (Right to Education) Act," said Jayant Jain, president of the NGO Forum for Fairness in Education, which is part of the group on stir. "He merely said that the assembly is in session and that's why they cannot do anything right now."
Jain added that after encountering this attitude, the parents had revised their demand and asked the government to at least pay revised salaries to teachers and to announce that no schools would be allowed to hike fees from this academic year until the new fee regulation act is introduced. Three of the 16 people currently on strike are from the city, and their health is failing day by day.
Sandip Chavan, parent of a student from Pimpri's DY Patil School, said that unlike the government's response to prominent leaders like Anna Hazare who went on a fast to press for the Lok Janpal Bill, parents have been ignored despite waging a war against private schools for many years now.
"Today, after over five days of continuous fasting by parents, two to three MLA's came to meet us. They assured us that our demands were being discussed in the assembly and we will be told about the developments very soon. But so far we haven't heard anything concrete and it is surprising how very few people have shown interest in this issue despite the fact that we are fighting for the public at large," said Chavan.
He said that the health of many protesters who had fallen ill during the fast was deteriorating as they were determined to keep the agitation going. "Even though the ill members have gone without food for many days, they are not only continuing with the hunger strike but also refusing medical aid," said Chavan.
The Other SideDespite repeated attempts, Education Minister Rajendra Darda remained unavailable for comment as he was out of town and did not respond to calls on his mobile phone.
