It has been observed that with the nursery admissions starting today, people with small wage such as laborer, a security guard, a sanitation worker, etc, cannot secure the admission of their wards into private schools under Economically Weaker Section Quota. It is due to the fact that the annual income limit of ₹1 lakh is too low in accordance with an unskilled worker who is earning ₹1.68 lakh as a minimum annual wage.
Keeping this in mind The All India Parent’s Association has written to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking that the limit should be increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh per annum.
“The parental annual income limit for EWS admissions in private schools, situated on government land, was fixed at Rs 1 lakh in 2004 when such admissions were started for the first time. When the Right to Education Act was implemented in 2010, the income limit was maintained at Rs 1 lakh. Even after 14 years, the limit has remained the same,” the letter states.
AIPA president Ashok Agarwal suggested that the limit is increased to Rs Rs 3 lakh: “The Centre is talking about an Rs 8 lakh limit for the EWS category… here in Delhi, even those who earn minimum wage are missing the mark. This needs to be rectified.”
Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia clarified that a change will only be mulled when the number of candidates applying under the category falls short.
“If we were falling short of candidates, a change could be mulled. However, with the minimum wage increase, this is something that can be looked at, but only in the next admission session,” he said.