Latest news with #GonduDhanalakshmi
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
AP: Child rights forum urges review of school entry restrictions
Visakhapatnam: The recent orders issued by the state govt prohibiting the entry of unauthorised persons into school premises violates child rights, said child rights awareness forum state president Gondu Dhanalakshmi and legal advisor K Praveena. They argued that child rights groups and NGOs—which routinely conduct support programmes, often with assistance from government and private funding, for the welfare, health protection, and rights of children—should not be restricted. Such limitations, they said, undermine children's right to access support and advocacy. "In order for the hardships and losses of students—who are constantly facing numerous challenges—to receive the full attention of higher officials in the concerned department, registered child rights groups with prior permission should be allowed access within the state. This is only possible through the involvement of those working for the protection of children's rights, and it will contribute significantly to safeguarding the rights of crores of students in the state. Keeping all this in mind, these orders should be reviewed. We have submitted letters to the national commission for protection of child rights, the state chief minister, the education minister, the principal secretary of the education department, and the director of school education, urging them to implement the law. We will organise various programmes to increase pressure on the state government and ensure justice for the children," they said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Hans India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Plea to sort out lapses in implementation of RTE admissions
Visakhapatnam: Demanding that the education department should pay attention to RTE admissions in private schools, Andhra Pradesh Child Rights Awareness Forum president Gondu Dhanalakshmi wrote to the government of Andhra Pradesh. She requested the Andhra Pradesh government to take necessary steps to ensure that the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) admissions lapses are addressed and admission for free education in private schools for students belonging to weaker sections is enforced. She mentioned that in many private schools, issues are being raised and admissions for students are denied in the first round by some of the school managements. The forum president underlined the need for the government to organise a meeting with school managements and their associations to examine the reasons for the denial of admissions, look into the shortcomings and take necessary steps to resolve them. Further, Dhanalakshmi stressed that it is only through planned and proactive measures the state could implement the RTE Act and protect the rights of the poor children. She noted that similar issues continue to recur at the beginning of the RTE admissions every academic year. Keeping this in view, the Andhra Pradesh Child Rights Awareness Forum president demanded the government to take appropriate steps to ensure implementation of admissions under the RTE quota without any deviation. Under Section 12(1) of the RTE Act, 25 per cent of free seats are reserved for children of the Class I from economically weaker sections in private schools. However, several private schools deny admissions under the RTE quota despite it being mandated.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Enforce RTE admissions: forum to govt
Visakhapatnam: The Child Rights Awareness Forum has urged the Andhra Pradesh govt to ensure that seats allocated under the Right to Education (RTE) Act are granted to underprivileged students without resistance from private institutions. In a statement issued on Sunday, Forum president Gondu Dhanalakshmi alleged that several private unaided schools continue to deny admission to economically disadvantaged students who have secured the 25 per cent free seats under the RTE Act, citing various reasons. "I have written to the AP government regarding the persistent challenges faced by these students and their parents in accessing the seats allocated under the RTE Act. The govt must convene a meeting with school managements and their associations to examine the reasons behind these denials and consider their concerns, limitations, and feedback," said Dhanalakshmi.
