Itanagar, Mar 26: The Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) has raised serious concerns over the issuance of trade licenses by the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) to unregistered private educational institutions and Special Schools, Rehabilitation, Therapy Centres for Children with Special Needs (CWSNs) within the Itanagar Capital Region.
During a routine inspection led by Ratan Anya, Chairperson of APSCPCR, it was discovered that private institutions such as Play Schools, Day Care Centres, Crèches, and Special Schools, Rehabilitation. Therapy Centres for CWSNs, were granted trade licenses by the IMC despite not being registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, or a similar state-level act. 
Taking cognisance of this serious anomaly, APSCPCR organized a Review-cum-Coordination Meeting on March 7, with all relevant stakeholder departments, including the Department of Elementary Education, Directorate of Health Services, SJETA (Social Justice, Empowerment & Tribal Affairs), Women and Child Development (WCD), Deputy Commissioner ICR, Deputy Director of School Education (DDSE) ICR, and the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC).
APSCPCR emphasized that, based on judicial precedents set by the Supreme Court and various High Courts, educational institutions by virtue of their primary purpose of imparting education, cannot be treated as commercial entities.
As per a notification issued by the Department of Education, no private school is permitted to operate without registration under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, or as a Public Trust. Therefore, the Commission considers the issuance of trade licenses to unregistered educational institutions a gross violation of legal provisions under both the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 and State Regulations.
Similarly, regarding the issuance of trade licenses to Special Schools for CWSNs, APSCPCR stressed that such institutions must be registered under Section 49 & 50 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 and Rule 21 of the Arunachal Pradesh Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Rules, 2018.
In response, the Commission has formally communicated with the Commissioner of IMC, urging an immediate review of al trade licenses issued to such institutions. It has also called for the revocation of trade licenses granted to unregistered institutions to ensure strict compliance with the law.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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