Ministry:
Human Resource Development
- The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2010 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on April 16, 2010. The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, which is scheduled to submit its report within two months.
- The Bill amends the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. It expands the definition of “child belonging to disadvantaged group” to include children with disability. “Child with disability” is defined as a child who is blind, leprosy cured, hearing impaired, locomotor disabled, and mentally ill. It also includes children suffering from autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities.
- A child suffering from autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities has the same right to pursue free and compulsory elementary education which children with disability have under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
- The Act provides for establishing School Management Committees to prepare school development plan. Article 30 of the Constitution provides that all minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. Thus, the Bill states that School Management Committees of minority institutions shall function only in an advisory capacity.
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