RTE seat quota sparks caste vs income debate

The Right to Education Act mandates that 25% seats in private schools be reserved for students from the weaker section of society.

The Right to Education Act mandates that 25% seats in private schools be reserved for students from the weaker section of society.

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Within this 25% quota, the state will have another quota to allot seats as per the existing reservation module. Each state has a right to notify such categories and conditions.

President of the Satyashodhak OBC Parishad, Hanumant Upre accused the government of being anti-OBC. "The very thought of reservations in our country is based on a social status of a particular community or caste. In RTE, the government should either do away with the income criteria or apply it for all classes covered in it. The state does not have any mechanism to check whether a parent from the SC or ST, whose annual income is huge, benefits from RTE."

However, a minister, who belongs to non-OBC community, told HT on condition of anonymity that the government was right in its decision. "It's constitutional and in tune with our existing quota system." Schools and parents across the state were notified of the provisions on Saturday. The schools need to display availability of seats before May 31 and complete admissions by June 10 without interviewing parents or children.