'Dejected' single mom seeks help from RTE centre

After being dejected for being a single mother, a 33-year-old woman from Jamnagar has sought help from the Right to Education Resource Centre at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Sumita Joshi, who had visited a centre in Jamnagar to submit her forms on Thursday, was sent back because she didn't have documents of her husband. Joshi, married for 12 years, separated from her husband three years ago, and has been living by herself with her son. While her divorce is in the process, she wished to take admission under the RTE Act.

Sharing her experience, she said, "I belong to a Scheduled Caste and my husband is a Brahmin. It was a love marriage, but soon things went bad and I had to eventually separate. I have documents to prove that the divorce is in process."

Interestingly, last year, Sumita had got admission under RTE, a document supporting which is with DNA. However, she was asked to apply next year because of age eligibility criteria.

"When I visited the centre on Thursday, they asked for documents like income proof, Aadhar number, etc of my husband. I am not in touch with him and hence, could not furnish the same. Later, they showed me a paper that said that admission will not be given to single parents. It was then that I sought help of the RTE resource centre."

Speaking about the case, Ishu Gupta, research associate at the RTE resource centre from IIMA, said, "We received a call from the lady from Jamnagar; she narrated what she went through and stressed on the notification that spoke against accepting forms from single parents. When I inquired about the notification from the person at the centre, he refused to share the copy of the notification and did not reveal his name."

"I went to the RTE website and called the person on his cellphone to inquire about the matter. The man, in a derogatory tone, asked the applicant's name and application number and eventually refused to comment. I inquried from my sources and authorities, they said there is no such rule. I myself have filled forms of three single parents this time.

Also, even if there is a notification, there has to be a solution for the same. The duty of the official is to help applicants find a way and seek proper documents. In this case, if the lady is saying that her divorce is in process, she can submit an affidavit stating the same and give the form. We do not want to go into the merits of the case but proper information should be given to applicants and they should not be deprived of the right."

Repeated calls and messages were made to Sunaina Tomar, Principal Secretary, Primary and Secondary education, but there was no response.