Rajasthan only state providing education to 6.5 lakh children under RTE: Devnani

: State education minister Vasudev Devnani on Friday said Rajasthan is the first state where more than 6.5 lakh students are being educated under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

The RTE norms states that 25% of seats in schools should be reserved for children from impoverished families.

Replying to a question raised by independent legislator Hanuman Beniwal during question hour, Devanani informed the House that in Rajasthan there are more than 36,000 private-run schools.

In the private-run schools, fee is regulated by the Fees Regulatory Committee, which comprises of 10 members–five parents and five members of the school management--he said, adding that if parents were not satisfied, they can complain to the committee constituted by the divisional commissioner.

Beniwal said private universities and schools were charging higher fees, due to which the RTE was implemented but still the situation is same.

Demanding that public representatives be included in the fees regulatory committee, the independent member said that the minister should constitute a high-level committee to probe into the effective implementation of RTE.

Devnani informed that Rajasthan is far ahead of other states in reimbursing schools under RTE. In 2016-17, the state disbursed ₹264.29 crore under RTE, he said. He further said that in 24,660 private schools, fee has been regulated, and in 24,612 it is fixed.

Only private schools that are following guidelines, will be given benefit of reimbursement by the government under RTE, he said. “In 2016-17, of 25,622 privaterun schools, 24,387 have been reimbursed and in 1,300 it is still pending.”

Meanwhile, members of the House shared lighter moments over the demand of a legislator from Alwar for neurosurgeon and neuro-specialists.

Replying, health minister Kali Charan Saraf said the posts for neurosurgeon and neuro-specialists were neither sanctioned at the district Rajiv Gandhi general hospital nor the issue was under consideration.

BJP member Banwari Lal Singhal said it is the government which is going to create the posts. “Lord Ram will not create the posts.”

BJP MLA from Ramgarh, Gyan Dev Ahuja, supporting the demand, said neurosurgeons are required in Alwar as there are more cases of mentally-challenged people and they require treatment.

Opposition Chief Whip, Govind Singh Dotasara said just because the ruling party lost in the bypolls, it does not mean that people in Alwar are mentallychallenged. On a lighter note, parliamentary affair minister Rajendra Rathore questioned Ahuja, saying how he was aware about number of mentally-challenged people in Alwar? “When did you count? You are insulting the district,” he said.

A member than pointed out that a neurosurgeon does not treat mentally-challenged patients.

JAIPUR