Probe Ordered Into Violation Of 25% BPL Quota Rule In School Admission In Odisha’s Khurda

Bhubaneswar: The district administration of Khurda in Odisha has initiated an investigation into allegation of non-adherence of the rule of 25 per cent quota in admission for students belonging to below poverty line in some private schools.

According to official sources, the district education office (DEO) has constituted two teams consisting of four officials each to conduct the probe.

The teams have been constituted following several complaints from parents/guardians of different blocks relating to non-adherence to the rule of admission pf 25 per cent quota for BPL students in private students.

The members of the two teams have been instructed to conduct the probe by April 10 and submit detailed report by April 12 for appraisal of the district Collector of Khurda, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the ‘Odisha Abhivavak Mahasangha’ has lashed out at the state government accusing it of having failed to implement the direction of the High Court regarding admission of students belonging to weaker section and disadvantaged group in private schools.

In a statement, the organisation claimed that the School and Mass Education department is yet to take concrete steps and formulate any policy for reservation of 25 per cent seats in private schools to provide free education to students belonging to economically weaker sections

Mahasangha president Basudev Bhatt alleged that more than 20,000 students belonging to economically weaker sections are being deprived of the facility of 25 per cent quota for admission in private schools to get free education because of inefficiency and irresponsibility of the department officials.

The mahasangha, which had filed a PIL in the High Court for proper implementation of the Right To Education law, said that the direction of the HC must be strictly adhered to across the state.