School fees: Letters to THE EDITOR

School fees

RTE Act, 2009 makes free and compulsory education under the age group of 6 to 14 years in India under Article 21A of Indian Constitution.

In our country, generally we see two types of educational institutions /schools - public and private. Public schools are run by the government or with the aid of the government. But private Institutions /schools are run with the monthly tuition fees and other fees. Tuition fees are collected from each and every student subject to the condition.

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, almost all educational institutions are closed since March this year. And most of educational institutions charge tuition fees and bus fares during this period. Now, most of the parents like me whose children are studying in private schools and pay monthly tuition fees without delay or lapse. Some of the parents advocate that the school authority or administration has no right to claim tuition fees during this period since schools are closed and students are not availing the benefits of traditional classroom, and they are attending only online classes. It is true that private institutions pay salaries to both teaching and non-teaching staff with the monthly tuition fees they charge from students. So, private institutions have the right to charge tuition fees from their students. If the government gives some grants to pay salary to teaching and non-teaching staff of such schools, the burden on parents like us can be minimized.

Through your esteem daily, I would like to bring attention of the State government to the plight of parents whose children are studying in different private Schools in the State.

Indrajit Sarma,

Chiring Chapori, Dibrugarh

Lockdown 1.0

It is a welcome step that the Government of Assam has started unlock 1.0 in Guwahati. It's a sigh of relief for the people of the metropolitan city. But, I do hope and pray that our fellow residents of Guwahati abide by the rules laid down by the government this time. Earlier, the people showed slackness in this regard and the result is out there for all of us to see. The behaviour of people during this Unlock 1.0 will decide the further course of action.

Everyone must be very careful while venturing out, putting on face masks and gloves and adhering to physical distancing norms. This will ensure less hospitalization and transmission can perhaps be brought down. Every person will have to cooperate and think towards the betterment of the entire society. This attitude is simply not just for COVID-19, but for any other communicable diseases. It should become a human chain and awareness from the bottom level till higher ups is required.

Also, since lockdown has been eased, it would have been worthwhile if alternate days were allowed for plying of four wheelers or two wheelers at least for two days per week initially. After staying for such a long time indoors, a bit of drive outside can freshen up our moods. Going out in cabs with children doesn't seem comfortable during this period.

Purabi Pathak Barua,

Guwahati

Protest by CITU

The CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) has organized a protest against Railway Minister Piyush Goyal's decision to run private trains in about 110 pairs of routes throughout the country. The railway passengers in large number have welcomed the decision.

The Railway passengers can definitely hope better service from the private players. Passengers will look forward for more comfortable, safe, hygienic, on time and world class travel experience, which these trains will be able to provide. However, the government should have a control in the fares that will be charged by the private trains. If the fares are competitive, passengers will definitely prefer the new trains.

Bikash Barpujari,

Guwahati

Gossip on suicide

When we talk about 'suicide' everyone talks about the person who committed suicide but no one talks about the reasons behind it and where from he/she got the idea of committing suicide. Those people who give negative comments and judge a person are the most responsible behind a person committing suicides. What's also responsible for people committing suicides is the Internet world where people search for anything and everything. They just have to type something and hundreds of results are presented on their screen. Google and YouTube are widely searched by people for even a smallest topic. Its benefits cannot be ignored that even the minutest details of study materials are widely explained in the videos, and it also shows solutions to practical and technical problems. However, there are many negative videos too. If a person searches for 'how to tie a suicide rope?' thousands of videos come up showing 'how to tie a hangman's noose?' These videos are very dangerous as any person suffering from mental pressure and depression will easily get influenced by viewing these types of videos and may end up taking his/her own life. Through the columns of your esteemed daily I would like to request the department concerned of YouTube to please take actions and delete videos as soon as possible. It should rather help them come out of mental depression.

Neha Singh,

Tezpur

IIT Guwahati website

I am not a computer expert. I am just a student and want to raise a concern about a website that belongs to one of the top institutes of India. Sir, when I checked I checked the website of IIT Guwahati http://www.iitg.ac.in/ I noticed that my browser gave me a warning that this website is not secure. From my basic knowledge, there is a difference between Http and https. The website that has Https is considered to be more secure. But I want to raise a concern about the issue. I appeal to the authority to give a reply about the issue.

Parashar Kalita,

Gauhati University.

Prolonged lockdown

Prolonged lockdown has left netizens in torment. Unlock 1 brings a futile attempt by the administration to plunge into a quick solution. Surprisingly daily office goers, shopkeepers, vegetables/fruits/poultry/fish sellers and other essential services personnel on duty are yet to be tested for swab test. Those Corona warriors might carry risk for others as well as for his family and neighbours. To control the community spread from the contagious pathogen COVID-19, instead of unlocking with limited scopes, people must be encouraged to check and carry COVID test report wherever they go outside. Police/service providers need to come up with such provisions to keep public in check.

Kamal Baruah,

Rukminigaon, Guwahati.

Arrest of journalist

There has been much hullaballoo cantering the arrest of Rajib Sarma, a journalist of Dhubri amongst the journalist fraternity across the State. It has not occurred to me that I would raise certain questions on the arrest of Rajib Sarma. But the father of Rajib Sarma could not bear the brunt of the shock; he suffered a massive heart attack and breathed his last. What we understand is that the father must have that conviction that his son must have carried out his duties as a journalist with integrity and his write-up is based on fact. The journalist Mr. Sarma also reiterated that he unveiled certain acts of irregularity that took place in Dhuburi's Forest Division and the DFO in league with S.P. of Dhuburi framed Mr. Sarma. Meanwhile, Press Council of India filed a case to try the matter judiciously. Similar cases were filed by some fellow journalists across Assam.

We as impartial onlookers want that the truth behind the arrest of Rajib Sarma should come to the fore. If the DFO is found to have framed Mr. Sarma with fake charge, action should be taken against the DFO.

Ashok Bordoloi,

Dibrugarh