Parents' body mushroom in Ahmedabad, confusion amock

With new issues being raked up every day surrounding the Gujarat Self Finance Schools (Regulation of Fees) Act, new parents associations are emerging in the city. The same people belonging to different parents association agree that while there is unity among parents in other cities of Gujarat, the same is amiss in Ahmedabad.

Today, there are nearly ten such associations running in the city, which are confusing the parents at large. The associations mushrooming here witnessed lack of support during the recent bandh call that was made on January 12. While an appeal to join the protest was made by these associations on social media, the response on the day of protest was cold.

The association members also allege that many have joined this movement to play politics. A source said, "Members of various associations who had joined the January 12 bandh call have not been seen till date. Media should also not highlight any association that is newly formed. Let them do some programmes of public interest and then they should be given publicity."

Pooja Prajapati from Parents Ekta Manch said, "My association was registered last year. People who started Vali Swaraj Manch had earlier started Nagarik Swaraj Manch then changed the name to Nagarik Adhikar Manch. It is a sad scenario as we all should be united."

Naresh Shah, President, All Gujarat Parents Association, "You will see many more associations coming up. Intentions should be clear. Defending his stand, he said, "My association is running in other cities like Rajkot, Vadodara, Surat, etc and we also have a letter pad. The new ones are just for publicity and are confusing parents."

Dharmesh Patel from Ghatlodia Parents Association representing a newly formed Vali Swaraj Mandal said, "We are aware that there are many associations in the city but they all are only restricting themselves to the fee issue. They can do that. But through this new common platform, we want to also fight for other issues like harassment in schools, parents being forced by school management, etc."

HELP IS HERE

• To address various concerns of parents regarding donation, harassment, behaviour including school fee issue, Vali Swaraj Manch (Parents Self Association) on Tuesday had created a helpline 7820002031that would clear doubts of parents and guide them.