Most CBSE schools in Ranchi are yet to introduce online transactions, prompting the district administration to convene a meeting next week to ask them about their inability to do so.
Out of the 35 schools in the capital, only nine have complied with the council's directive to go cashless from January 1. The schools have cited technical issues behind the delay.
Among the schools who are yet to follow the directive include DAV group of schools in Bariatu, Hehal, Ashok Nagar, Gandhinagar and Kadru, Kairali School, Surendranath Centenary, Bridgeford Public School, Tender Heart Senior Secondary School, Firayalal Public School, Cambrian Public School, Cambridge School, Central Academy, G & H High and Sachidanand Gyan Bharti Model School.
Regional director of DAV, Ranchi Zone, T.P. Pati said they were in the process of developing software for online transactions by tying up with either Punjab National Bank or Bank of India. "Earlier, we were trying to tie up with SBI. But, that did not happen," he said, adding that they were asking parents to pay fees by cheque.
Pati said that he could not give the exact date as to when they were going to introduce online payment modes.
Principal of Kairali School C.J. Jacob said that it would not be possible for them to start the online payment facility mid-session. "We are paying salaries of teachers online and those of bus drivers and helpers via cheque. But, we are yet to develop a system to allow students to pay fees online. We will introduce the facility in April," he added.
Parents are, however, bearing the brunt of schools not going cashless.
"I had to leave my household chores and stand in a long queue to pay my daughter's fees at the school counter," said Anju Sinha, a resident of Bariatu Housing Colony whose daughter Divya Shree studies in Class IV of DAV Public School, Bariatu.
Schools which have gone cashless are JVM-Shyamali, DPS-Ranchi, Oxford Public School, DAV Nandraj Public School, Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School, Lala Lajpat Rai Senior Secondary School, Sarla Birla School, Vivekananda Vidya Mandir and Army Public School.
Vice principal of Oxford Public School A.K. Singh said they had kept two point of sale or card swipe machines at the school office counter to enable parents to pay fees online. "Parents can also log in to Bank of India (BOI) portal and pay online. We are also allowing parents to pay through cheques," he added.
Contacted, Ranchi deputy commissioner Manoj Kumar said that they would convene a meeting of school principals concerned on January 21 to ask them the reasons behind not going cashless. "We are ready to help schools to facilitate their tie-up with banks and also willing to provide them swipe machines," he added.
