Date:21/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/21/stories/2008022160450300.htm

New Delhi

BJP demands white paper on education

Staff Reporter

“9 lakh kids deprived of education”
“Delhi Govt. in connivance with these schools”

NEW DELHI: Charging that 9 lakh children of school-going age were being deprived of education due to economic reasons, Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan has demanded that the State Government issue a white-paper on how many poor children in the city were getting free education in each of the schools.

Responding to claims made by Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely in which he had stated that stern action would be taken against those schools which have not admitted economically weak children as per the 20 per cent quota, Dr. Vardhan alleged that “the Education Minister and the Chief Minister have been issuing such hollow warnings for the past nine years. Instead of befooling the people, the Chief Minister should explain the reality through a white-paper so that the people who are disappointed with the Government may take the help of law.”

The BJP leader said if the welfare of the poor was at the heart of the Delhi Government, then it should give details of action taken against those schools which have taken donation for admission or have refused to admit the children. Dr. Vardhan went on to allege that the Delhi Government was in connivance with those schools which have taken land at concessional rates, but were violating their promises. “The owners of these schools had submitted that they shall reserve 25 per cent seats for the poor children. In spite of a High Court directive, the poor children are not being given admission.”