By IANS,
Kolkata : The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Friday slammed the West Bengal government for not implementing right to education act in the state.
Addressing the media here at conclusion of a two-day-long public hearing, NCPCR Chairperson Shanta Sinha said the problem of child labour and trafficking were rampant in West Bengal because of non-implementation of the right to education act.
“It seems that the issue is not of resources but that of will,” Sinha said.
“These and many other children are falling victim to child labour and trafficking because the authorities have not implemented the RTE in all seriousness that could allow children a chance at education and better future,” she said.
Sinha was reacting to the cases of denial of rights shared by the children, their parents and the members of the civil society.
NGO Action Aid, which assisted the public hearing, said cases of denial of admission to school without admission fee and mid-day meals not being provided. Poor pupil-teacher ratio and even absence of neighbourhood schools were brought to light at a public hearing organized by NCPCR.
The NGO quotes a government survey stating that the state stands 33rd among 35 states in implementation of the act and nearly 15 percent students do not get mid-day meal.
“The hearing focused on non-implementation of the right to education act and high incidence of child trafficking in the state of Pashchim Banga after over 50 NGOs filed petitions regarding the violations of children’s rights,” an Action Aid statement said.
“After nearly 18 months of the enactment of the right to education act, there is still limited awareness regarding the act, as many of the cases registered were of school authorities asking for fees at the time of admission,” the statement said.
The statement also said the state had not yet prepared the rules of the act. “Even though last three years have seen allocation of up to Rs.4,000 crore for implementation of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan in the state,” it said.
The act was implemented in April 2010 and provides for free universal education to all children between six and 14 years of age.