LG Recommends AAP Govt To Raise Income Limit To Rs 5 Lakh For EWS Category In Delhi Schools

Given the large number of vacant reserved seats in private unaided schools, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has recommended the AAP government increase the income threshold for the EWS category to Rs 5 lakh from its current Rs 1 lakh. In a file related to the Delhi High Court concerning income limit, the Delhi LG noted that ideally, the income limit must be Rs 8 lakh as these primary and secondary level students go ahead for higher education.

Under the Right To Education (RTE) Act 2009, 25% of the seats in private unaided schools are reserved for students belonging to the economically weaker section (EWS).

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The lieutenant Governor noted that the threshold limit for admission to EWS seats in private schools should align with the threshold limit of EWS admission in higher education institutions. In line with the High Court decision, it could be at least Rs 5 lakh. Delhi LG said that as per the Delhi government’s minimum wage data, the annual income of skilled workers is Rs 2.63 lakh which is more than the proposed threshold limit of Rs 2.5 lakh.

He cited that on average nearly 11% of the reserved seats for the EWS category in the private schools remained vacant in Delhi in the last 3 academic sessions. The unfulfilled seats show the failure of the Delhi government by keeping the income threshold limit unrealistic and with restricted coverage.

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Citing the Delhi High Court’s December 5, 2023 order, the LG said that Rs 1 lakh annual income for EWS category children does not reflect the economic hardship faced by the families and it should change with the dynamism of the economic structure of the society.

Recommending the Delhi CM he said, “The Chief Minister is strongly advised to re-visit the threshold limit for admission in private unaided recognized schools of Delhi in the interest of the larger vulnerable group of economically weaker sections of Delhi and raise the income limit to at least Rs 5 lakh”.