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Private Schools in Shimla Flout Rules, Hike Fees upto 50% Without Holding General Houses, Alleges Parents Forum

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shimla private schools fees

Shimla-  Hefty fees of private schools in Shimla had already been bothering the public, and during the the last two years the Covid pandemic has worsen the situation for parents. State government’s failure and absence of willingness to regulate fee structures of schools and take action against violations of directions passed in its notifications is also apparent. The parents alleged that the schools are not ready to provide any relief in fees despite the fact that institutions mostly remained closed during two consecutive sessions.  Now, the parents allege that instead of providing relief and complying with the notification issued by the state education department in December 2019, the schools have hiked fees.  

After a lot of hue and cry over payment of full fees despite institutions being remaining closed, last year the state education directorate had issued notifications asking schools to defer charging all other fees except tuition fee. The parents, however, complained that these schools have not only bypassed the notification by including 80% of these fees into the tuition fee, but also ignored notification mandating holding a general house with parents prior to taking any decision over hike in fees.

Also Read: Himachal: Private Schools Only Asked to Defer Fees During Lockdown, Not to Waive Off, Thanks to Helpless Edu Minister

The student-parent forum in Shimla on Friday released a press statement, demanding a roll back in the hiked school fees during the last two years. The forum said that private schools have made hikes between 15 to 50% without conducting a general house with the parents. The forum has deemed this fee-hike amid the Covid pandemic illegal and asked the state government to consolidate it.

“There has been an increase of 50% in school fees in the year 2021 without consulting the parents by organizing a general house. We demand the Directorate of Higher Education to apply its notification issued on December 5, 2019 to all private schools,” the forum said.

Also Read: Is This The Best Himachal’s Education Minister Can do to Regulate Private Schools, Make Them Obey Govt Orders?

According to the aforementioned notification private schools are not permitted to hike fees without conducting a general house 2020 onwards, the forum said.  The parents alleged these notifications are not deterring these schools at all as their repeated violations have attracted no action from the government.   

The forum alleged that there has been an increase of twelve to twenty thousand rupees in school fees during the last two years. About 80-90% of the total fees are charged under the title of tuition fee, which is a cunning attempt to bypass the notification. 

“This is clearly a well organized loot, and the State Government and Directorate of Higher Education’s silence and inaction raises several questions,” the forum said. 

The forum argues that hikes in fees aren’t justified in any way at a time when schools remained closed and the school expanses on electricity, water, sports related facilities, computer labs, annual functions, maintenance, sanitation etc. were almost zero.  

“Instead of an increase, there should have been at least 25 percent reduction in fees,” the forum said.  Further, it alleged that the unwillingness of state government to form a Regulatory Commission to keep private schools in check is suspicious in itself. 

The forum has warned the state government that if the hikes made in fees during 2020 and 2021 are not rolled back, the forum will continue to protest against it. 

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A 23 year old English graduate intensely passionate for journalism. Literature has taught her the value of latent, varying perspectives, and journalism couples it seamlessly with her inclination to look beyond the surface. She sums up her passion for journalism by quoting Maxine Hong Kingston, “There's something in life that's a curtain, and I keep trying to raise it.”

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HP Govt Employees to Get Higher Pay Scale on Completion of Two Years of Service: CM Jairam

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Shimla-Himachal Pradesh Government employees working in different departments before January 3, 2022, would be given a higher scale at par with other employees on completion of two years tenure of regular service. A higher pay scale was also announced for the Junior Office Assistants (IT) on completion of two years of regular service.

Chief Minister Jairam Thakur made these announcements during the Karamchari Maha Sammelan of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Federation at the hotel Peterhof on Sunday.

He appreciated the role played by the employee especially frontline workers in the battle against the pandemic.

He said most of the government employees in the state have been given revised pay scales and on average, every employee has got the benefit of a 12 to 15 percent salary hike. There has also been an increase in the pension of about 1.50 lakh pensioners of the state. The financial benefits of Rs. 7801 crore have been given to state government employees and pensioners from the year 2018 to 2022. The pensioners who retired before 2016 are getting the benefit of a 15 to 20 percent increase in the pension while around 40 thousand pensioners who retired after 2016 would be benefitted soon, he said.

He said the daily wages were Rs. 210 in the year 2017 which has been increased by the present state government to Rs. 350. Similarly, 12 per cent interim relief annually has been provided to government employees and pensioners during the present government’s tenure. He said the Himachal government has provided Dearness Allowance to its employees and pensioners on the lines of Punjab and Central governments from the due date. The Punjab government has given only 5 percent interim relief to the employees while the Himachal government has provided 21 percent interim relief to its employees.

“Out of the total interim relief amount given to the employees and pensioners amounting to about Rs. 6500 crore, Rs. 3500 crore has been paid during the tenure of our government” added the Chief Minister.

He said that the state government has increased the government contribution for NPS employees from 10 percent to 14 percent benefitting more than one lakh employees. The NPS employees are being given the benefits of retirement and death gratuity at par with employees falling under the old pension scheme. The government has also increased the upper limit of death gratuity from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.

The Chief Minister said the state government has also increased the honorarium of para-workers working in various departments. The salary of outsource workers has been hiked by Rs 1,500 per month.

Non-Gazetted Employees Federation President Ashwani Thakur thanked the Chief Minister for providing various financial and other benefits to different categories of government employees.

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Most Covid Restrictions to be Lifted From March 31, Mask and Hand Hygiene to Continue

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New Delhi-The Centre has issued a notification to the States informing that the provisions of the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005 will not be invoked in the country after March 31. The Union Health Ministry said that the use of face masks and following hand hygiene will continue.

It implies that most of the Covid-related rules and restrictions would end.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued the notification which said that the decision was taken following the overall improvement in the situation and the preparedness of the government in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, local authorities and State police can still invoke fines and criminal cases against persons violating COVID-19 norms under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a senior government official said.

The DM Act was invoked on March 24, 2020, due to the pandemic

“Over the last seven weeks or so there has been a steep decline in the number of cases. The total caseload in the country stands at 23,913 only and the daily positivity rate has declined to 0.28%. It is also worth mentioning that with the combined efforts, a total of 181.56 Cr vaccine doses have been administered,” the notification said.

“I would like to mention that in view of the nature of the disease, we still need to remain watchful of the situation. Wherever any surge in the number of cases is observed, the States/UTs may consider taking prompt and proactive action at a local level, as advised by MoHFW (Health Ministry) from time to time,” the notification said.

The Indian government had issued various guidelines and measures for the first time on March 24, 2020, under the Disaster Management Act to curb the COVID-19 situation in the country, which have been modified several times thereafter.

India currently has 23,087 active COVID-19 cases and recorded 1,778 new cases and 62 deaths in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rate has also declined to 0.28%.

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HP Cabinet Decisions: Country Liquor Made Cheaper in New Excise Policy, Read All Decisions

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hp cABINET DECISIONS MARCH 20,2022

Shimla-A meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet was held on March 20, 2022, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.

The excise policy for the financial year 2022-23 was approved. Approval was also given for the renewal of retail excise vends in the state for the financial year 2022-23 at the renewal fees of 4% of the value of unit/vend.

The State Government said that wants to enhance the government revenue and curb the smuggling of country liquor from the neighbouring states by a reduction in its price.

The brands of Country Liquor will be cheaper as license fees have been reduced. This will help in providing good quality liquor at a cheaper rate to the consumers.

In the new excise policy, the 15% fixed quota of country liquor for manufacturers and bottlers to be supplied to the retail licensees has been abolished. According to the government, this step will give the retail licensees to lift their quota from the suppliers of their choice and further assure the supply of good quality country liquor at competitive prices. The MRP of country liquor will be cheaper by 16% of the existing price.

In this year’s policy, the Gaudhan Vikas Nidhi Fund has been enhanced by Re.1/- from the existing Rs.1.50 to Rs.2.50.

The fixed annual license fee of Bars has been rationalized by abolishing the area-specific slabs of license fee. Now throughout the State, there will be uniform license slabs based upon the room capacity in hotels.

Rates of the annual fixed license fee of Bars in the tribal areas has been reduced considerably.

Further, all the above stakeholders will have to install CCTV cameras at their establishments as it was made mandatory for them.

Wholesale vends and retail vends, the penalty provisions under the H.P. Excise Act, 2011 have been made more stringent.

An end to end online Excise Administration System would be established in Himachal Pradesh, the government said.

HP Government estimates a collection of Rs 2131 crore revenue during the year, which will be Rs. 264 crores higher than the financial year 2021-22 – growth of 14% in state excise revenues.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to amend Himachal Pradesh Disaster Relief Manual-2012 to include deaths due to biting of honey bees, hornet and wasps, accidental drowning and deaths due to accidents of vehicles (including land, water and air) under this Manual.

The Cabinet gave its approval for filling up 11 posts of ‘A’ Class Tehsildar in Revenue Department through direct recruitment on regular basis through Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission.

HP State Toll Policy 2022-23

The HP Cabinet also gave its nod to HP State Toll Policy for the year 2022-23 which envisages auction cum tender for all the toll barriers in the State. During the year 2021-22, toll revenue has registered a growth of 20 percent of the previous year’s revenue.

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