Coronavirus: Right to Education forum writes to PM on food, health of children

The Right to Education Forum (RTE Forum) has submitted a memorandum to PM Narendra Modi to ensure the protection of the rights of children during this 21-day coronavirus lockdown.

With schools been shut around the country amid coronavirus outbreak, the Right to Education Forum (RTE Forum) has submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has requested to ensure the protection of the rights of children during this time of crisis.

Ambarish Rai, national convenor of the forum, said that the coronavirus pandemic has affected the education massively. With schools being shut, crucial nutrition for children, mid-meals are getting disrupted. Many students as per the Right to Education Act 2009 is getting derived from Fundamental Rights. Even before the nationwide 21-days lockdown was announced in the country, the classes were suspended and exams were postponed, leading to severe academic loss to many. 

In a memorandum, the forum stated that the government should ensure that the food and nutrition reaches to all children even when schools are shut, to protect their lives. 

It has also sought an increase in the allocation of budget to health and education.

Rai has also requested the government to spend at least 6 percent of Gross domestic product (GDP) on education and 5 percent on health.

"It is a very crucial time for our country and has impacted everyone especially the elderly, the very young, street dwellers, informal sector workers and marginalized sections who have suddenly lost their livelihood in the wake of the lockdown. Children who are on the streets and belongs to the marginalized sections are have been affected badly. With parents of street dwellers children losing their livelihood, it has become very challenging for them to afford basic necessities like food, clothing, shelter and other essential requirements. Also, there are long term consequences as a result of the loss of access to education," the forum stated in the memorandum. 

To ensure all children get food, the forum has requested smooth home-delivery of mid-day meals and for the implementation of the Supreme Court’s order to provide nutritional food for children and lactating mothers through the early childhood, or anganwadi centres, on an urgent basis.

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