The Hindu : New Delhi News : Future of tuition centres uncertain in Delhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 28, 2007
ePaper


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New Delhi

New Delhi

Future of tuition centres uncertain in Delhi

Staff Reporter

New Master Plan declares such centres "commercial"

NEW DELHI: Tuition centre owners and teachers along with the parents of children studying there in different parts of the Capital are a worried lot these days as their future remains uncertain vis-à-vis the proposed new Master Plan for Delhi-2021.

One of the main worries of the people running these centres is that in case MPD-2021 declares such centres commercial, they would not have enough resources at their disposal to shift to a commercial hub where the rents are too high.

Also, the tuition centre owners argue that teaching activities can be carried out only in the relative calm of residential areas and not in commercial areas where noise levels are very high.

"It is also true that a commercial place will not be safe for children. Moreover, it is not a feasible option for parents to drop and pick up their children from faraway places," says Educators' Forum president Keshav Aggarwal. Nearly a hundred tuition centres from across the Capital have joined the forum to articulate their demands.

Mr. Aggarwal also pointed out on Saturday that since most of the students come on foot or on bicycles and leave immediately after the classes, there is no nuisance or parking problem because of them.

He argued that, despite having been termed as a profitable business in a recent court judgment, the schools had been allowed to function. "Why isn't there any relief for us?'' asked another member of the Forum.

Function

He wondered why the tuition centres were being meted out "step-motherly treatment" even though fitness centres had been allowed to function from the Capital's residential areas falling under A and B categories.

While their fate hangs in the balance, there might still be some hope for the tuition centre owners and the parents of students studying there. Confederation of All-India Traders secretary-general Praveen Khandelwal said traders were all in favour of giving these institutes relief as had been given to schools.

"We are fully in support for these centres continuing to exist as they are. If at all they have to be shifted, they should be given adequate time," said Mr. Khandelwal.

"Politicians too have supported their cause, and so far the indications are that the Union Urban Development Ministry is taking a sympathetic view of their condition," he added.

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