NEW DELHI
Under the Right to Education Act's Section 12(1)(c) the private schools are obliged to reserve 25% seats for the students who belong to the economically weaker sections of the society(EWS) and the disadvantaged groups(DG).
Delhi has executed the Act so proficiently that it stands to be the most successful in its implementation.
The total number of seats under the Act is Rs 21 lakh and the national fill rate of EWS is 29%.
Delhi in addition to the high degree of clarity on the relevant processes and policies has the highest percentage of seats filled with 92.08%.
The data from the District Information System for Education (2013-14) and the notifications issued by the government for assessing the 25% EWS-DG quota was researched by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Central Square Foundation, and Accountability Initiative and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.
The 'State of the Nation: RTE Section 12(1) (c)', was released in Delhi. It reviewed the various criteria of the states' definitions, the clarity levels and transparency in finances and the processes. Delhi has defined the eligibility criteria and the document required very clearly.
Also there was transparency on the type of information to be shared and the channel that is to adopted. The process of selection even though in theory was quite clear also having a State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR).
On the other hand Bihar had a fill rate of 20.78%.Nothing was clear in the state as It had only the basic knowledge of the definition of EWS-DG, neighborhood criteria and the appointment of the various authorities.
Even though Chhattisgarh had a fill rate as high as 63.1% but their knowledge was poor on the EWS and neighborhood, and SCPCRs was same as the worst performing states.
However the finance system is blurred. The private schools do not share the cost calculation process and reimbursement process.
In the public areas of most of the states, there are no details of the costs per child. Even if it exists the methods adopted to evaluate these costs is not revealed clearly.
Also the Information on costs per child is not available in the public domain for most states. Where this information exists, there is no clarity on methodology adopted by state governments to calculate these costs. The Public and the schools are not aware of the procedure for the reimbursement of the government to the schools. The uncertainty of the billing of textbooks, uniforms and midday meals crops as some of the schools are repaid by the government and some are not.