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SoBo schools resort to hiring sleuths to confirm the credential of candidates applying under EWS quota

While parents are often resorting to unscrupulous means to secure an admission for their ward using the RTE Act quota, the schools have become highly aware and carry out their out investigation to ensure whether the claims to be EWS is true.

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While applying for admission in a SoBo school under the RTE Act 2009, quota, little did the parents of a student realise that the school would actually hire a detective agency to verify their credentials. This has left the family with a bitter taste and they have complained to the education department that the school is tarnishing their reputation.

The parents reported that they were allotted a seat at Bombay International School in the first round of admissions under RTE. "The school hired a detective agency, which went to the collector's office to check our backgrounds. Detectives visited our neighbourhood and this has tarnished our image," said the father of an applicant.

The school, in turn, said the parents had misused the quota benefit actually meant for the poor. "We received applications only under the economically disadvantaged category. As per government rules, bona fide applicants have to live within 3km from the school and need to have an annual income of Rs 1 lakh. As mandated by the government, we have processed the online applications received, and updated the government RTE admissions website on April 30. Unfortunately, most applications failed to satisfy the criteria. On simple verification, applications were found to be from prosperous families with affluent lifestyles and/or from families that did not live within 3km from the school," a school spokesperson said.

Not resting there, the parents said they will file a complaint with the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. "The school has no right to question the income certificate submitted to them in the original. We will also protest at the department office," said Heena kanojia, national co-ordinator, National Student's Union of India, who is helping the parents.

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The deputy director of education, Mumbai, met officials from 7 schools, which had rejected applications made under the quota, on Thursday. "The schools have told us why they have rejected the applicants and submitted their stance. We have told schools that the income certificate is issued by the collector or tehsildar's office, which is the final authority, and cannot be questioned. The schools have been given time to review the applicants," said B B Chavan, deputy director.

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