District-wide RTE awareness 'jatha' from May 23

Mangalore, May 17: A district-wide 'Savithribai Phule Right to Education Awareness jatha' is being organized by Right to Education Vigilence and Monitoring Committee, DK, from May 23, to create awareness among the masses about Right to Education (RTE) Act.

Briefing about the scheduled 'jatha' at a press conference held in Mangalore on Thursday, Renni D'Souza, Convenor of the Committee, said that the jatha has been named after Savithribai Phule for her concern with regard to making education accessible to Dalits and other marginalized sections of the society at a time when they were being denied the right.

The 'jatha' is being organized to make people aware of the provisions of RTE and how they could take to task schools and officials who violate the RTE norms, Mr. D'Souza said. An attractive vehicle will be used to disseminate information about RTE which will begin its journey from Mangalore on May 23 and proceed to Bantwal, Belthangady, Puttur on May 24, 25, and 26 respectively, and finally culminate at Sullia on May 28, he added.

Responding to a query on 25% reservation for marginalized sections provided by the Act, Lolaksha, AHINDA leader, and member of the Committee, said that the demand to nullify admissions already completed in schools still stands. “Some schools have completed admissions already and in the existing intake itself, they may try to segregate the quota. Let the government nullify their admissions and ask them to restart the process again. Real deserving children such as street children and children of migrant workers etc have to benefit from the quota from this academic year itself”, he said.

Elected representatives of people must also take the initiative to make sure that RTE is implemented in the right spirit in their respective constituencies, he added.