Monday 20 June 2011

Poor student asked to pay 9,600 for certificate

A poor but meritorious student was recently asked to pay fees amounting of Rs 9,600 for the release of his  (SLC) after passing the Plus II examination. Unable to pay the amount demanded by his school, the student has not been given the SLC, which is necessary for getting admitted into a college to pursue higher education.


Chandrasekhar Sahu, the son of a daily-wage earner from Sikabehenga village, has written to the district collector to help him pay the stipulated fee to (JNV) in Belpada so he can get his SLC.


Chandrasekhar has been studying at JNV since class VI. The school authorities asked him to pay a fee of Rs 9,600 for Navodaya Vikas Nidhi, a development fund for the school. The boy's father expressed his inability to pay the amount, but the school authorities turned a deaf ear and refused to release his SLC until the payment was made.


Chandrasekhar has topped in the Plus II CBSE examination in the Orissa zone by securing 95% marks. He now aspires to become a doctor, but until he gets through the medical entrance, he wants to pursue a degree course at some college. "I was not given my SLC as I couldn't pay the fee demanded by my school. I am preparing for the medical entrance. Even if I get through the entrance in the coming session, I need the SLC. I told my father about this and he suggested we approach the collector for help," he said.


Interestingly, while the school reportedly stuck to the demand and refused to waive off the fee, the district collector, Sailendra Narayan Dey, promised to pay the required amount on behalf of Chandrasekhar.


Principal Manoj Kumar Das said students from class IX to Plus II are charged a fee of Rs 200 per month. "As per the guidelines, we charge Rs 200 every month from each student between class IX and Plus II for Navodaya Vikas Nidhi. Except for girls, SC and ST students, all the students are required to pay the fee. Chandrasekhar has not paid the fees for four years, as a result of which he was asked to pay a sum of Rs 9,600," said the principal. He said if the boy was claiming exemption of fees, he should have proved that he was BPL, SC or ST. He belongs to other backward caste (OBC). 

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