Delhi schools fee hike, an election issue

New Delhi, Apr 30 (ANI): Demanding subsidy in school fees, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest here against fee hike by private schools.

A BJP delegation including senior leaders Vijay Kumar Malhotra and Vijay Goel met Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit on Wednesday and demanded immediate roll back of the hike.

"The Delhi Government hiked school fee between Rs. 100-500. But schools in lieu of that hike are also asking for Rs. 10,000-15,000. This money should be given by government from its side in form of a subsidy. The burden of fee hike should not be laid on the parents," Malhotra said.

"Sheila Dixit said that she will calculate it, but won't withdraw order. But if this order is not withdrawn, school authorities will continuously charge fees and disturb kids who don't pay the hiked fee," added Malhotra.

On this, Sheila Dixit said, "They have suggested that we should give subsidy on fee hike. But I told them at present elections are underway and if I announce subsidy this time you will complain to the Election Commission that I am doing this for vote catching. So we can't do it as code of conduct is in place," saidixit.

In January, the Delhi Government had given its nod to a structured fee hike in private schools, but parents' associations claim the increase has been manifold. he school fee hike, following a revision in the wages of government employees, has become a major local issue in the national capital ahead of the May 7 polls in the fourth phase of the parliamentary elections. (ANI)