Mumbai: The assurance of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority(MMRDA) to the families affected due to the Wadala-Ghatkopar-Kasarvadavli Metro 4 project, that their kids will be provided admission in nearby alternative schools once they shift to the new place has remained unfulfilled. The schools are starting in the next few days while a few schools have already started leaving no option for these project affected families to pay hefty donations or continue to send their children to the old school which is now far-off from their new address.
One of the parents named Sachin Mengade who shifted to Karve Nagar in Kanjurmarg from Savitribai Phule Nagar in Ghatkopar which is nearly nine kilometres by road said that he has been left with no other choice but to continue sending his kid, a class second standard student, to the old school in Ghatkopar. "I take my son to school through railways or by an auto. However, travelling by auto every day will burn a hole in my pocket, so we (me and my wife) have decided to travel frequently by train. I am Hoping that MMRDA's letter of recommendation will be accepted by the school authority and trouble is reduced," remarked Mengade.
The official from MMRDA informed that they have sent letters of recommendation for at least 14 students for admissions in Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, a central government controlled education institution. He added, "All who applied for recommendation wants admission in this school only which is quite difficult. However, we have written letters to the commissioner requesting them to consider these children in migrant category quota and as a special case."
Meanwhile, the official asserted that they cannot force the school authorities to give them admissions. In the metro 4 project, a total of 147 families have been shifted who are coming in this metro alignment. Interestingly, to make the shifting unopposed and since the common reasons cited by project affected families for being non-cooperative and opposing the project is because their children’s education is affected. Considering this, the MMRDA decided to give recommendation for school admission along with new homes.
- Sweety Adimulam
