Ranchi: Parents can now vent school-related grievances o the district administration.

Complaints about security, demands for extra fees and compulsion to buy books from a particular shop can be lodged by dialling two helplines - 0651-2208378 or 9431587446 - every day from noon to 2pm.

A magistrate deputed by sub-divisional officer Anjali Yadav will review the complaints, verify them and take appropriate action.

The helplines were launched on Monday.

"We are receiving several complaints and taking action," the SDO said on Wednesday, adding that the details will be shared with the media after a week.

Sources at the SDO office said there were a lot of complaints about schools colluding with publishers and book shops to earn extra bucks.

"Some parents informed that though the booklist had been uploaded on the school website, the management has made such an arrangement that none can purchase books from any other place besides those recommended by the cradle. We are also getting information regarding the collection of bus fees for 12 months instead of 11. Some of the parents said how a heavy fine was being imposed in case of a delay in the payment of fees.," an official at SDO office said.

Executive magistrate Sweta Verma, who is associated with the help line number, said the response was good.

"Parents are passing on several information to us," Verma said, adding that the information are being recorded and every grievance will be addressed.

On December 12 last year, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of South Chotanagpur commissioner Dinesh Chandra Mishra.

In the meeting, attended by the representatives of various ICSE and CBSE-affiliated schools, it was decided that the cradles will follow the Supreme Court guideline on the safe conduct of school bus service and the enforcement of Right to Education Act besides starting a leave management and grievance redressal system and a feedback forum.

It was also decided that no school will force parents to purchase books from a particular shop or accept schoolbus fees for more than 11 months.