Bachpan Bachao Andolan, once again acted as the catalyst and emerged with a victory in its struggle to ensure free quality education for all children.

In Rajasthan, the Andolan’s efforts led to the State Human Rights Commission in issuing a directive to the Secretary, Education Department and Bikaner’s Primary Education Director to guarantee that free education remained free for classes 1st to 8th in government schools. No development fees should be charged from children coming from the economically deprived families. The Commission has also made the District Education Officer accountable to oversee that there is no violation of the order.

The order by the Commission came after a complaint was filed by the Andolan. In its various interventions, the Andolan has looked for and gained cooperation and assistance from the administrative bodies. But, there are certain issues on which the government policies are not only incapable of fulfilling their fundamental responsibilities but also negative implications for the future.

One such case came to the fore, when the Andolan started a drive to admit child labourers associated with the stone polishing industry into schools. During the admission process it was found that the government schools were charging development fees upto Rs. 100. This fees was levied on all children even from those coming from Below Poverty Line families. In some of these schools the local development commitees had imposed an ultimatum on the children to pay the stipulated development fees or leave the school.

This practice was found in schools in Virat Nagar, Idgah and Ambedkar Nagar (under Jaipur district) but is not restricted to just these few schools but this situation prevails in all schools of the state.

On one hand it is so difficult to integrate former child labourers into the mainstream of education and above that the callous attitude of the school officials simply put off the children and their parents in having confidence in the education system. More so, it is also a key factor in the high drop out rate in the primary schools.

But, the Andolan through its endeavour in the last 25 years has shown that its tireless effort will one day definitely provide free quality education to all children.