Policy Bazaar thinks, not Right to Education but insurance ensures kids' schooling

By Rajiv Shah

While frequent advertisements on TV are extremely jarring, I was a little amused while watching a Policy Bazaar-sponsored advertisement. The advisement by one of India's most well-known online insurance brokers sees a woman asking a kid entering the house why he hasn't been to school. The kid enters in with a bag full of vegetables in his hand which he presumably bought in the market at a time he should have been in the school.

The kid's mother -- visibly annoyed with drops coming out of her house -- responds by stating that the kid, named Rishi, couldn't go to school because she failed to pay his fees for the last three months, hence he was forcibly "dropped out". In the background one can see the kid's father's garlanded and framed photograph hanging on the wall, suggesting his was an untimely death.

The commentary ends by insisting upon the viewers that one should buy a Rs 2 crore health insurance plan starting at as little as Rs 690 per month to avoid such an eventuality. It's available on policybazaar.com. This, says the commentary by a woman in the background, is needed to ensure that the child's dreams do not go awry and keep the family's life secure.

I was left wondering: Does the Policy Bazaar not know that under the Rights to Education (RTE) Act, which came into effect in 2010, provides for free and compulsory education in private schools for up to 8th standard for children from economically disadvantaged communities? Since the kid's age in the advertisement is not mentioned, a look at his face made me assume that he should be in the 7th standard!

While 25% of seats are supposed to be reserved for the economically disadvantaged sections, the management cannot take any capitation fees or donations for admission, nor can there be any interviews while admitting a child in this quota. Or should one believe that Policy Bazaar seeks to indict the private schools for taking fees from economically backward children, or rather non-implementation of the RTE Act?

Scanning through the internet I stumbled upon a decade old well-researched story in Down to Earth regretting that "only 5% schools in the country meet RTE provisions. In strict legal terms, recognition to the remaining 95% schools should have been withdrawn. But this is not possible in a country that does not have enough schools to meet the demand." The story adds, while enrolment in government schools has drastically gone down, it has increased in private schools.
Has the situation changed in any manner? Doesn't seem so, especially considering that the present powers that be are increasingly emphasising on privatisation in every sphere, including education. Let me quote from a recent (April 2024) Newsclick report: "Contrary to the Modi government’s promise of improving access to education, the reality is that between 2018-19 and 2021-22, the total number of schools in India decreased by 61,885, dropping from 15,51,000 to 14,89,115. The most significant decline was observed in Central and State government schools, accounting for 61,361 closures.”
The report adds, "The decrease in the number of government schools has been accompanied by a rise in the number of private schools, which makes accessibility a big question for the marginalised sections." So, is this Policy Bazaar's imagined kid made to suffer thanks to government indifference towards making education compulsory, and failing to ensure that he can have free education in a government school?

Or does Policy Bazaar think that all kids must be educated in private schools, and government schools have no reason to exist. RTE or no RTE? For, an insurance policy would lose its importance if no fees would need to be paid!

Comments

When democracy becomes a performance: The Tibetan exile experience

By Tseten Lhundup* I was born in Bylakuppe, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in southern India. From childhood, I grew up in simple barracks, along muddy roads, and in fields with limited resources. Over the years, I have watched our democratic system slowly erode. Observing the recent budget session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, these “democratic procedures” appear grand and orderly on the surface, yet in reality they amount to little more than empty formalities. The parliamentarians seem largely disconnected from the everyday struggles faced by ordinary exiled Tibetans like us.

Civil society flags widespread violations of land acquisition Act before Parliamentary panel

By Jag Jivan Civil society organisations and stakeholders from across India have presented stark evidence before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj , alleging systemic violations of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013 , particularly in Scheduled Areas and tribal regions.

Beyond the island: Top mythologist reorients the geography of the Ramayana

By Jag Jivan In a compelling new analysis that challenges conventional geographical assumptions about the ancient epic, writer and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik has traced the roots of the Ramayana to the forests and river systems of Central and Eastern India, rather than the peninsular south or the modern island nation of Sri Lanka.

Dr. Ram Bux Singh: Biogas pioneer’s legacy gains urgency amid energy crisis

By A Representative In an era defined by a global energy crisis and a desperate search for sustainable solutions, the visionary work of an Indian scientist from the mid-20th century is finding renewed, urgent relevance. Dr. Ram Bux Singh , a pioneering figure in biogas and renewable energy , is being posthumously honored by the Government of India, even as his decades-old innovations provide a blueprint for today’s challenges.

Alarming decline in India's repair culture threatens circular economy goals: Study

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive new study by environmental research and advocacy organisation Toxics Link has painted a worrying picture of India's fading repair culture, warning that the trend towards replacement over repair is accelerating the country's already critical e-waste crisis.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Protesters in UK cities voice concerns over alleged developments in Bastar region

By A Representative Demonstrations were held across several cities in the United Kingdom on March 28, as groups and activists gathered to protest what they described as state actions in India under the reported “Operation Kagar.”

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Search This Blog