Children’s rights body pulls up edu dept for inaction

The Maharashtra State Commission of Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has pulled up the officials of the state education department for their inaction in several cases between parents and schools wherein the officials have neither taken any action nor submitted a report related the cases.

The commission heard cases of four different schools in the city on Friday. In most cases, the commission observed that despite complaints being registered by parents with the state education department, education officers and other competent authorities of the department had neither taken any action against the schools, nor submitted a report to the child rights commission about the issue thus leading to further pendency of cases.

“The education department is not able to solve grievances of the parents as a result of which they have to appeal to the commission. It is unfortunate that despite mandates being given to the department under the RTE, its officials are not performing their functions,” said the commission. In a case filed against a school in Mahim, the commission asked the education officer if a report was filed to which the official responded in the negative. “Many cases to the commission have been pending at the state education department. Due to delay in action from authorities, parents have to appeal to the commission. If the officials of the department use their powers, grievances can be solved faster,” said  AN Tripathi, Member Secretary, MSCPCR.