HindustanTimes.com Wednesday, May 15, 2002
Free education Bill passed HT Correspondent (New Delhi, May 14) The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the 93rd Constitution Amendment Bill to provide for free and compulsory education to children between six years and 14 years of age. In spite of queries about "existing" guarantees on the right to education to children up to 14 years of age, the House gave its approval to the amendment by the required majority. There were 164 votes in favour and none against. Several members persisted in their queries regarding the fate of Supreme Court rulings that the right already existed under constitutional provisions. Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi said the amendment passed today was now a law. The Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha, was supported by the Opposition which raised queries about the scope of the law and the funds needed to implement it. Dr Joshi said the allocation of Rs 9,800 crore for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for the current year was based on realistic estimate. The process of shifting the financial burden on the states would be slow. The minister said the law was needed as court judgements could get superseded in the course of time. He said the required notification to put into force the law would be issued without delay. Funds were always a problem and personally he supported the suggestion that a part of taxes could be kept apart for education. Send your feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ©Hindustan Times Ltd. 1997. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without prior permission.
