Jamshedpur Schools Protest Jharkhand Govt’s Refusal to Reimburse RTE Fees for BPL Students
BPL Students’ Education at Risk as Govt Halts Fee Aid to Jamshedpur Schools
AJUPEI Warns of Legal Action, Says Decision Threatens Education of Underprivileged Children
- Jharkhand govt stopped RTE reimbursement for Jamshedpur schools in 2020
- Schools were earlier paid Rs 425 per BPL student per month
- Govt claims schools on Tata Steel–leased land are ‘government-aided’
- AJUPEI rejects claim, says no free land or aid received
- Association warns of court action and possible halt to BPL admissions
Jamshedpur, January 2: Private unaided schools in Jamshedpur have strongly objected to the Jharkhand government’s decision to stop reimbursement of fees for students admitted under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, warning that the move could severely affect the future of thousands of children from economically weaker sections.
Addressing a press conference at Narbheram Hansraj English School (NHES) on Friday, Nakul Kamani, Chairperson of the Association of Jharkhand Unaided Private Education Institutions (AJUPEI), said the state government’s stand was “arbitrary, discriminatory, and legally untenable.”
He was joined by Gian Taneja, Vice President, Dr. Srikant Nair, Honorary Secretary, R.K. Jhunjhunwala (Treasurer), Rajiv Talwar, Diwakar Singh, and Sharad Chandran Nair, who together apprised the media about the association’s prolonged struggle for reimbursement of BPL student fees.
‘RTE Is a Legal Right, Not Charity’: Kamani
Nakul Kamani said the Right to Education Act, enacted on August 27, 2009, clearly mandates free and compulsory education for children between the ages of 6 and 14, with the responsibility of funding shared between the Centre and the states.
“The RTE Act is not a favour or charity by private schools. It is a constitutional and legal obligation of the government,” Kamani said.
He pointed out that the Jharkhand Government Gazette dated May 11, 2011, had reiterated the state’s commitment to the Act and had even expanded coverage by including entry-level admissions for children aged 3 to 4 years.
Government Paid Only Rs 425 per Month, Schools Accepted ‘Under Protest’
Kamani explained that following a letter from the Director of Secondary Education (Letter No. 1536 dated July 6, 2011), the state government began reimbursing schools at a rate of Rs 425 per student per month (Rs 5,100 per year) for BPL students.
“As per the RTE Act, reimbursement should be either the actual expenditure incurred per child by the state—which is around Rs 3,000 per month—or the school’s fee, whichever is lower,” Kamani said.
“In Jamshedpur, private unaided schools spend approximately Rs 1,500 per child per month, yet we were paid just Rs 425, which is a pittance.”
Despite this, Kamani said schools continued to admit BPL students and accepted the amount ‘under protest’ in 2020, keeping the welfare of children above financial concerns.
State Stopped Payments in 2020, Citing ‘Government-Aided’ Status
The situation worsened, Kamani said, when the state government abruptly stopped payments from December 14, 2020, citing a new interpretation of policy.
He referred to a letter issued by Jharkhand Siksha Pariyojana Parishad (JEPC) (Letter No. JEPC/RPE/47/10/2017-28/2061 dated December 14, 2020), signed by Shailesh Kumar Chorosia, then Director, State Education Development.
“The letter states that no reimbursement will be made to schools that have received land or any benefit from the Government of Jharkhand,” Kamani said.
The government’s argument is that schools located on Tata Steel–leased land should be treated as ‘government-aided schools’ and are therefore not eligible for reimbursement under RTE.
‘No School Got Free Land from the Government’
Rejecting this claim, Kamani said the government’s reasoning was fundamentally flawed.
“No school in Jamshedpur has received free land or financial aid from the Government of Jharkhand,” he asserted.
“Many schools operate on land leased from Tata Steel, for which rent is paid annually. Tata Steel is not the state government. Calling such schools ‘government-aided’ is completely misleading.”
He added that similar industrial townships across India—such as those run by SAIL, CCL, and other public sector undertakings—continue to receive RTE reimbursements without dispute.
“Jamshedpur is the only city in the entire country where RTE reimbursements have been stopped on this basis,” Kamani said.
Financial Burden Becoming Unsustainable
Kamani highlighted the growing financial strain on private schools, many of which are non-profit institutions.
“Today, nearly 40 percent of students in many Jamshedpur schools are non-paying or partially subsidised under RTE and other welfare provisions,” he said.
He explained that schools face rising costs every year due to:
- Mandatory minimum wage hikes
- Annual 10 percent increase in maintenance and infrastructure costs
- Rising salaries for teachers and staff
- Repair and ageing infrastructure expenses
“At the same time, the government has capped annual fee increases at 10 percent, making it impossible for schools to balance costs,” Kamani said.
“Either we increase fees for paying students—which is unfair—or we compromise on quality. Neither option is acceptable.”
‘We Are Not Running Businesses’: AJUPEI
Emphasising that private schools are not profit-driven entities, Kamani said:
“We are not asking for profits. We are only asking for reimbursement of actual costs incurred in educating underprivileged children.”
He warned that continued denial of funds could force schools to reconsider admitting BPL students.
“This is not a threat. It is an economic reality. No institution can survive indefinitely while bearing the government’s responsibility without support.”
Gian Taneja: ‘Education Quality in Jamshedpur at Risk’
AJUPEI Vice President Gian Taneja said the issue goes beyond finances and could affect the city’s overall educational standards.
“Jamshedpur is known nationally for its education ecosystem,” Taneja said.
“If private schools are forced to cut corners or shut doors to BPL students, the entire system will collapse.”
He added that government schools alone do not have enough seats to accommodate all eligible children under RTE.
Dr. Srikant Nair: ‘Government Avoiding Its Own Responsibility’
Honorary Secretary Dr. Srikant Nair said the association had repeatedly sought clarity from the government.
“We wrote to the Education Department on April 22, 2024, asking how many seats are available in government schools,” Nair said.
“The RTE Act clearly states that private schools should be approached only after government school seats are filled. Till date, we have received no response.”
Dr. Nair said the lack of transparency suggests the government is attempting to shift its responsibility onto private institutions.
No Response Despite Multiple Representations
Kamani said AJUPEI had sent several representations to district authorities, the Education Department, and senior officials over the last four years.
“We kept being assured verbally, but no written response came,” he said.
“Finally, after repeated follow-ups, we received a letter (Letter No. 2698 dated November 17, 2025) clearly stating that the government will not reimburse fees for BPL students in Jamshedpur.”
Association Considering Legal Action
With no resolution in sight, AJUPEI is now considering legal options, including approaching the courts.
“We do not want to take this route, but we have been left with no alternative,” Kamani said.
“If the government refuses to honour the RTE Act, we will seek judicial intervention.”
He added that the association may also be forced to stop admitting BPL students if the situation continues, a move that could impact thousands of families.
Call for Immediate Review of Decision
The association appealed to the state government to urgently review its decision in the interest of children.
“This issue is not about Jamshedpur schools versus the government,” Kamani concluded.
“It is about the future of underprivileged children, the integrity of the RTE Act, and the survival of quality education.”
