NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh government has directed education authorities across the state to ensure that schools do not compel parents to buy books from private publishers or designated vendors in violation of RTE Act. The action followed after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), acting on a complaint filed by Anubha Shrivastava Sahai, president India Wide Parents Association Lawyer and child rights activist, sought reports from both the union education ministry and the state government on allegations of coercive textbook sales by private schools.The NHRC took cognisance of the complaint alleging that some CBSE-affiliated private schools in Uttar Pradesh were forcing parents to purchase costly books, workbooks and supplementary material from specific sellers. The commission issued notices to the union education ministry and the UP government, seeking an action taken report within four weeks.In its order, the NHRC observed that schools were allegedly operating what the report described as a “book mafia”, involving “a nexus between school managements, designated vendors and private publishers, that compels parents to purchase costly, non-NCERT books, workbooks and supplementary materials at inflated prices.”The commission further said, “The Commission is, prima facie, of the view that the practices disclosed amount to a violation of Section 29 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.”Following the NHRC intervention, Uttar Pradesh’s additional chief secretary, secondary education, issued directions to the director of secondary education and district education officers to ensure that no school forces parents to purchase books published by private publishers or from any particular vendor. Officials have also been asked to take necessary action wherever such complaints are received.The NHRC sought details on whether Section 29 of the RTE Act is being implemented in the state, whether audits of school booklists have been conducted, and whether the National School Bag Policy, 2020, is being enforced.The UP government said awareness drives and textbook availability campaigns had already been conducted across districts and that instructions were in place to prevent the sale and promotion of unauthorised private guides and supplementary books. District authorities have been directed to investigate complaints promptly and ensure compliance with prescribed textbook norms.
