Indus Action Empowers Over 6 Million Students Through Right to Education Initiative

Enter the world of change with Indus Action! Our 2023 Bright Spots Report (BSR) is here, offering a concise yet powerful glimpse into our ongoing efforts to enhance access to essential services for vulnerable populations.

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New Delhi: Indus Action, a prominent non-profit organization dedicated to advancing access to essential services for vulnerable populations, has unveiled its annual Bright Spots Report (BSR) for the year 2023. This comprehensive report delves into the implementation of Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE Act) across India, underscoring the organization’s unwavering commitment to fostering equity within educational frameworks.

Enacted in 2009, the RTE Act mandates that private unaided schools allocate 25% of their seats to economically disadvantaged sections (EWS) and marginalized communities. Through the BSR, initiated in 2018, Indus Action aims to capture best practices and promote equitable access to education.

The RTE Act is a pivotal stride towards achieving universal primary education, aligning with global initiatives such as the “Education for All” campaign and the Sustainable Development Goals. Indus Action’s involvement through the BSR seeks to enhance comprehension, monitor state-level progress, and address gaps in implementing this transformative legislation.

Divided into two sections, the report offers a comprehensive analysis of key trends, obstacles, and recommendations. Section I presents a national overview and offers strategic insights, while Section II conducts in-depth assessments across seven crucial criteria of Section 12(1)(c) implementation in the 18 states and Union Territories where the law is being enforced.

The data for the BSR has been meticulously collated from various government sources, including UDISE, PAB minutes, state and UT notifications, parliamentary inquiries, state education portals, and previous Bright Spots reports published by Indus Action.

Indus Action’s grassroots experience and data collection underscore both the challenges and achievements in implementing RTE Section 12(1)(c). Collaborating with state governments, the organization has facilitated over 608,612 admissions under the RTE Act, empowered 172,446 mothers with maternity benefits under the National Food Security Act, and aided 121,996 workers in accessing entitlements through state-specific labor welfare provisions since 2013.

The BSR identifies bright spots and challenges across states. While states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Delhi exhibit high private school participation rates, Bihar stands out with 100% participation. However, reimbursement processes remain a significant hurdle nationwide.

One noteworthy finding is that no state, except Bihar due to Indus Action’s intervention, has integrated its reimbursement process with the Public Finance Management System (PFMS), leading to financial inefficiencies.

The report also sheds light on the oversight of including children with special needs, revealing a decline in their enrollment, potentially exacerbated by pandemic-induced school closures.

Despite being in effect for over a decade, only 18 states have implemented RTE 12(1)(c) as of February 2023. The Supreme Court has issued notices to non-compliant states, urging them to enforce the provision.

Emphasizing the importance of transparency and digital systems, states employing online submission and monitoring processes have shown higher reimbursement approval rates. Additionally, seventeen states have established per-child costs, with Chandigarh allocating the highest at INR 28,176 and Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh the lowest at INR 5,500 and 5,400 respectively.

The report underscores the dearth of publicly accessible data on 12(1)(c) implementation, highlighting the need for improved data collection and transparency. Despite its potential as a significant public-private partnership in education, a substantial percentage of reserved seats remain unfilled.

Tarun Cherukuri, CEO of Indus Action, says, “The implementation of the RTE Act varies at the state level, impacting admission requirements under Section 12(1)(c) across regions. Differences encompass age limits, income criteria, document prerequisites, and application procedures. Recognising successful practices becomes crucial, providing education officers an opportunity to learn, adapt, and implement effective strategies tailored to their context. Data from the BSR aids in informed policy decisions, such as establishing Grievance Redressal mechanisms, calculating per-child-cost, or revising EWS criteria. By embracing best practices, states can enhance RTE 12(1)(c) implementation, advancing educational access and mitigating socio-economic disparities. 6 million students have benefitted historically, and there is potential for another 6 million fresh admissions before 2030.”

Indus Action advocates for enhanced transparency, streamlined data collection, and pragmatic policy interventions to fully harness the RTE Act’s potential in fostering educational equity and narrowing socio-economic disparities. The organization remains dedicated to collaborative efforts with stakeholders to address challenges and amplify the impact of RTE Section 12(1)(c) nationwide.