Connect with us

National

Jharkhand Assembly Addresses Issue of Private School Fee Increases

Published

on

During the budget session on Tuesday, members of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly addressed concerns regarding the excessive fees charged by private schools. Legislators, including Pradeep Prasad, Babulal Marandi, and Naveen Jaiswal, voiced their worries about the steep fees associated with re-admission and other miscellaneous charges. There was a notable consensus among both ruling and opposition parties on this matter.

Education Minister Ramdas Soren stated that citizens can file complaints with the district-level committee if schools violate regulations, emphasizing that strict actions will be taken against any offenders.

Assembly Speaker Ravindranath Mahato underscored the urgency of enacting a law to regulate school fees, calling on the government to act, a proposal that was met with substantial support from fellow members.

Hazaribagh MLA Pradeep Prasad questioned the disparity in fees charged by different schools under the same educational board and urged the government to implement a uniform fee structure across all private institutions. He highlighted that without government intervention in fee regulation, poorer families would be unable to afford private education for their children.

Opposition Leader Babulal Marandi acknowledged the existence of a Fee Regulatory Tribunal to oversee private school fees but noted that it seldom convenes. He proposed that these meetings should take place monthly, led by the District Commissioner, particularly prior to the admission season, and recommended notifying public representatives ahead of time so they could address parents’ concerns.

Minister Ramdas Soren clarified that while private schools have the autonomy to set their own fees, actions will be taken against those that violate regulations. He recognized the issue of high re-admission fees as a significant concern, assuring that any complaints would be thoroughly examined by the district-level committee. Schools found in violation could face fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. He also mentioned that the government had previously attempted to tackle this issue by seeking a High Court intervention against arbitrary school fees, although the petition was ultimately dismissed.

Following this intense discussion in the Jharkhand Assembly, a critical question remains: Will the state government actually legislate to regulate school fees, or will this issue continue to be a mere point of contention? The government has indicated it will await the committee’s recommendations, while some opposition members and MLAs are advocating for prompt action.

For now, it remains to be seen whether the government will heed the Speaker’s recommendation or let the dialogue linger in political debates without tangible outcomes.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National

MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

Published

on

New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.

Continue Reading

National

8 Patients Dead In Jaipur Hospital Fire

Published

on

Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.

Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.

Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.

Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.

Continue Reading

National

75-Year-Old Man Marries 35-Year-Old, Dies Before Honeymoon

Published

on

Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.

The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.

The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”

However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.

Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.

Continue Reading

Trending