The RTE admission process has begun, but still schools are yet to get the funds. So the school directors have decided to stop admission, till the funds are released. RTE Foundation would resort to hunger strike in Azad Maidan from Monday.
The RTE funds for Nagpur district are pending from four years. In year 2017-18, Nagpur district had received 50 per cent funds, in 2018-2019 28.5 per cent and in 2019-20 and 2020-21, the government has not given a single penny. Whereas in Kolhapur, Solapur, Aurangabad and Jalgaon except Vidarbha, the government had given 100 per cent funds, and in 2018-2019 they received 50 per cent funds.
The RTE Foundation has raised the question that other districts were given 100 per cent funds in 2017-18, so why not us? The foundation has demanded that the remaining amount should be released immediately. Also the process of funds distribution should be made convenient and the Central and State government grant should directly be credited into the accounts of the school.
Foundation president Sachin Kalbandhe said that it has become extremely difficult for schools to pay salaries to teachers due to Covid. They have warned that government that, till the time the balance amount is released, they will resort to hunger strike.