Admissions of Poor Children at Private Schools through Right to Education Act

The team has also been spearheading the implementation movement of ‘Right to Education (RTE)’ primarily Section 121at all levels of the UP government for a state level policy reform on RTE that has potential to impact 600,000 poor children every year. Our crusade against powerful hurdles like political and private school lobby during the implementation of the RTE law in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of the country, is unique as no other organization had attempted to challenge the status quo. Our main partner Bharat Abhyudaya Foundation (BAF) has put in years of intensive efforts. The first 4 years had seen a dismal record with just 108 admissions due to an unconstitutional state policy and resistance from Private School Lobby. However, BAF and Progressive Foundation Team with persistent advocacy and implementation efforts with top state leadership was able to bring about an interim policy reform and government willingness to implement the constitutional Act in early 2015. This led to over 40,000 admissions in last two years.