Jalgaon (Maharashtra) – In many schools across Maharashtra, students are forced to buy school materials, uniforms, books, shoes, etc., only from a specific shop. This compulsion often leads to financial dealings between school management and traders, directly burdening the parents. In an effort to stop this injustice, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’s Surajya Abhiyan has achieved success, as the Jalgaon District Education Officer has issued a clear directive against such coercion. Surajya Abhiyan has now demanded that such orders should be implemented across the entire state. This information was shared by Mr. Madhav Sawalani of Surajya Abhiyan during a press conference.
The press conference was held at Padmalaya Guest House in Jalgaon, attended by Mr. Prashant Juvekar (North Maharashtra Organizer, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti), Advocate Niranjan Chaudhary, RTI Activist Mr. Narendra Sapkale, and Mr. Gajanan Tambat.
Schools have been instructed to display these orders on notice boards at prominent locations. As per the directive, no school can force students to purchase materials from a specific shop. Students are free to purchase from any shop of their choice. Such coercion is not legally valid under the Right to Education Act.
While this decision in Jalgaon is welcome, the issue is not limited to a single district. In many other districts, school managements compel students and parents to buy from designated shops, causing financial exploitation of parents due to collusion between schools and traders.
In March 2025, Surajya Abhiyan had submitted a memorandum to Hon. School Education Minister Shri Dadaji Bhuse, demanding a statewide implementation of such directives. The minister had directed the Principal Secretary to take action. The government must now clarify what action has been taken in response. Surajya Abhiyan has made the following demands: Clear statewide orders should be issued immediately, Strict action should be taken against schools enforcing such compulsion, Recognition of such schools should be cancelled if needed, A toll-free number and email facility should be made available for lodging complaints. If the government takes concrete steps, the financial injustice on students can be prevented, Surajya Abhiyan has expressed.
