Nitish Kumar Assures Action on EWS Seats Amid Heated Assembly Debate

By A Staff Reporter

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday assured the state assembly that steps will be taken to fill up seats reserved for economically weaker sections (EWS) in private educational institutions, in accordance with the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

His statement came during a heated exchange between ruling and opposition members over the issue of vacant EWS seats in Patna’s private schools. The situation escalated when Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLAs stormed into the well of the House, shouting slogans against what they termed the "education mafia."

Intervening in the debate, Nitish Kumar stated:

"We are committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Right to Education Act are implemented properly. Steps will be taken to fill the vacant EWS seats in private educational institutions."

The opposition, particularly RJD leaders, accused the state government of failing to act against private schools that allegedly deny admissions to EWS students despite legal provisions. They demanded strict enforcement of the RTE Act to ensure that economically weaker students get their rightful place in quality education institutions.

The Right to Education Act, 2009, mandates that 25% of seats in private schools be reserved for children from economically weaker sections. However, reports suggest that many private institutions either fail to comply or create hurdles in the admission process.