Income limit to get RTE benefit by month-end

After facing criticism over the delay in implementing the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the state government is finally pulling up its socks.

In a high-level meeting at Mantralaya on Tuesday, the government decided to define the income limit for the economically weaker sections within three weeks. This issue has been a major roadblock in the implementation of RTE in the state.

According to a top official, “We have studied the income limits set up by five states that have implemented the RTE. Now, the school education department will fix the limit for Maharashtra by the month-end. We will implement the Act from June.”
 In the meeting, the Act was discussed section by section. But it is still unclear whether the education officers will be able to define the limit for the poor, and whether their recommendations will be accepted by the cabinet.

 As the Below Poverty Line (BPL) limit is not being considered for the RTE, education officials will have to come up with a formula that will have a far-reaching impact. While Delhi has set the income limit of the family to Rs1lakh per annum, Mizoram fixed it at Rs30,000 and Manipur Rs40,000 for the RTE. Andhra has fixed it at Rs60,000. Sanjay Deshmukh, who has been appointed nodal officer of the RTE, says, “Our case is different from other states.

We have to look at districts like Gadchiroli as well, which may not have a per capita income of more than Rs40,000.”