Need to curtail tuition, transportation fee

The prevalent situation due to the spike in COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir has once again affected the people badly as all the business and other trade has come to a grinding halt due to the subsequent lockdown imposed by the government in the Union Territory from April 29, 2021 evening in order to prevent the cases from spreading. The people especially those belonging to the downtrodden section of the society here have become dependent due to the ongoing situation as they are not able to earn a single penny from the last over 20 days. However, amid such a situation, the private school administration has been forcing the parents of the poor students to pay 100 per cent monthly fee, thus leaving them to lurch at large. It is a well-known fact that the people across Jammu and Kashmir have not earned a single penny during the ongoing and previous Covid-19 lockdown and thus simultaneously can’t afford to pay the tuition fee and other charges. Last year, the government had issued clear cut directions to the educational institutions not to charge complete fees during the lockdown period. However, during the ongoing lockdown, there has been no statement in this regard and the government has maintained complete silence in this regard. Amid the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, there is a need to break the silence over the issues. The private educational institutions should be directed to curtail the tuition and transportation fee to provide a sigh of relief among the parents who have enrolled their wards in these educational institutions.