MUMBAI, July 3 -- The Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced to constitute a committee that will study how the private, unaided schools in Mumbai that are declared "unauthorized" can get relief. These are the schools that have failed to fulfil mandatory conditions specified under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The state school education minister, Dada Bhuse, while announcing this in the state assembly, also assured positive decisions in the best interest of the large number of students studying in these schools. The RTE Act mandates free education for poor and marginalised students. It also outlines conditions that schools must comply with, such as the "number of teachers for a specific number of students, teaching hours, amenities at school building such as one classroom for each, teacher, office for the head teacher, barrier-free access, separate toilets for boys and girls, safe and adequate drinking water facility, playground, a kitchen where mid-day meal is cooked among others," states the RTE Act. In 2023, 218 out of the 678 unaided private schools in Mumbai were operating without a recognition certificate under the RTE Act. Samajwadi legislator Abu Asim Azmi raised the issue in the assembly. He said while schools must follow the norms and conditions for RTE, those run in slums could be given exemption from them. "A slum where no one is willing to enter, and yet people are imparting education to the children of those residing in it. These are families that cannot afford to send their children anywhere else," he said, demanding to look at the case on compassionate grounds. Responding on the issue, Bhuse said, "The (RTE) act mandates several conditions, and some of them ensure the safety of the students. However, it is also a fact that a large number of students are taking education in these schools. Considering their interest, we form a committee to study the matter in detail," Bhuse told the state assembly....