Admission to Kendriya Vidyalaya for all children

From: Citizens' Forum, IITK
To: Dr. Nachiketa Tiwari, Nominee to KV Management Committee IITK
CC: Prof. Manna, Director IITK
Subject: Admission to Kendriya Vidyalaya for all children
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:40:06 +0000

Dr. Nachiketa Tiwari

Nominee of Chairman

Vidyalaya Management Committee

Kendriya Vidyalaya

IIT Kanpur

Dear Dr. Tiwari,

I am writing on behalf of Citizens’ Forum at IITK – a group of alumni for the rights and dignity of workers at IITK.

We have learned that children/grandchildren of the following permanent employees of the Institute are being denied admission to Kendriya Vidyalaya even though it is within their rights.

1. ████  (PF#██) Hall 1 Office

2. ████  (PF#██) Hall 9 Office

3. ████  (PF#██) Hall 3 Mess

4. ████  (PF#██) DOSA Office

COW Chairman has also confirmed their status as permanent employees and given his recommendation as per released documents.

Let me bring to your kind attention the admission procedure and the policy outlined on Kendriya Vidyalaya Website http://www.iitk.ac.in/kviit/school/ and RTE Act http://ssa.nic.in/quality-of-education/right-of-children-to-free-and-compulsory-education-act-2009 .

Kendriya Vidyalaya’s website Section 3(B) 1 on PRIORITIES IN ADMISSION states:

"Children and grandchildren of employees of the Public Sector Undertakings/Institutes of Higher Learning which are the sponsors of the Vidyalaya.  The children of project employees & Post Graduate students who are working long term research projects and children of regular Council of Wardens (COW) employees besides retired employees to be included in category I for the purpose of admission."

Kendriya Vidyalaya’s website Section 10 (I) on SCHEDULE AND PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION states:

“….admissions in Kendriya Vidyalayas are not restricted to Central Govt. employees and are open to all, only certain priorities have been laid down as per which children of different categories would receive priority in admission. The reservations for SC, ST and Physically Handicapped should also be indicated (As per RTE Act 2009).”

We believe that as per the RTE Act 2009 education should be accessible to all children irrespective of their class or status. In this case, as cited above, the admission policy and procedure of Kendriya Vidyalaya clearly indicates that the children/ grandchildren of the above named employees should have been admitted to Kendriya Vidyalaya. Even the principal of the School approved their admission. We fail to understand the basis on which you would deny admission to these children.

We consider this action an outright violation of admission policy, discrimination against a certain class of people and violation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 as enacted by Parliament.

We certainly hope, the Institute, our Alma mater, does not wish to engage in such a reprehensible practice and sully its good reputation. We hope that there has been a misunderstanding and urge you to immediately correct the situation, inform the affected employees to proceed with application process of their wards.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Sushil Handa, (Class of 66)
(On behalf of Citizens' Forum)

c.c. Prof. I. Manna, Director
Citizen Forum website

Editor's Note: Some personal details redacted for the web version.