COVID19 lockdown: SMC Mayor proposes 100% school fee waiver for children of daily wagers

Srinagar, April 09:  Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu has proposed a category-wise fee waiver for private school students given the economic downturn due to the lockdown.

In a letter to District development Commissioner, Srinagar, SMC Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu has proposed a 100% school fee waiver for the children of daily wagers.

 “To keep in view the cascading economic impact of the current situation, you are requested to instruct all the private educational institutions in Srinagar to implement a category-wise monthly fee waiver for private school students,” he said.

Mattu, however, said there should be no fee waiver for those kids whose both parents are salaried government employees or registered private firm employees (and there has been no withholding of salary from an employer in the present lockdown).

“30% waive off in monthly fees in case both parents are self-employed or business owners with IT returns showing a collective annual income of more than Rs. 600000. 40% waive off in monthly fee in case one parent is salaried, government or registered private firm employee (and there has been no withholding of salary from employer) or one parent is self-employed or business owner,” he said.

Mattu said there should 50% waiver for kids whose both parents are self-employed or business owners with IT returns showing an annual income of less than RS. 600000.

“100% waive off in monthly fee in case parent is daily wage earner with monthly income less than 20,000.  100% fee waiver of transport charges on all categories”, he said.

 DC Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary was quick to respond calling the suggestions “important”. “In follow up to our discussion on the issue, we are initiating a process to reach out to the stakeholders and evolve a mutually workable mechanism. Will keep posted,” he said.

President, Private School Association, G N Var said since death bells are ringing,  their primary focus is to see how they can provide relief to the needy and deserving people. “This is the deliberate attempt to deviate attention from the catastrophic failures of the government,” he said.