Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 2 (HBTV): The Uttar Pradesh government has revised the system of providing admissions to underprivileged children in private schools, introducing stricter rules and stronger monitoring. The application process will now be fully online, with Aadhaar cards of both parents and the child made mandatory.
The age limit for pre-primary admission has been set between 3 and 6 years, and for Class 1 between 6 and 7 years. For the first time, a District-Level Implementation and Monitoring Committee has been formed, chaired by the District Magistrate. More than a dozen district-level officers will serve as members to oversee the process. Disputes arising during admission will be resolved by a four-member committee under the Chief Development Officer.
Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh said, ‘This initiative of the government will prove to be a milestone in making education accessible to all. No underprivileged child will be deprived of quality education. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure equal opportunities for every section of society.’
The scheme covers children from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, socially and educationally backward classes, orphans, destitute children, children of parents suffering from HIV/AIDS or cancer, and children from families with disabilities. Families with an annual income of up to INR 1 lakh are also eligible.
All applications will be submitted through the portal, and schools must upload details of available seats. The government will bear tuition fees of admitted children, while parents will receive an annual grant of INR 5,000 directly into their bank accounts to purchase uniforms and books.
Parents submitting fake documents will face legal action, and schools denying admission without valid reason may lose recognition. Director General of School Education Kanchan Verma said that schools must upload allotment details on the RTE and UDISE portals, or they will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Reimbursement and aid will be released only after bills are fully verified by district officials. Block Education Officers will also conduct quarterly inspections to confirm the presence of admitted students.
(ANI)