After plaints, teams formed to check ‘monopoly’ in sale of books, uniforms

Bhopal: In response to complaints of arbitrariness and pressure tactics by schools on parents over sale of uniforms and books, the Bhopal district administration has set up eight special teams to scrutinise private schools. This is the first time an action of this scale has been undertaken in the city. Bhopal collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh said, "This addresses persistent issues of schools compelling parents to procure materials from specific outlets, often at inflated prices. Schools must focus on education, not business." Headed by Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), these squads will conduct unannounced inspections and take action on schools caught forcing parents to buy books or uniforms from favoured vendors at exorbitant rates. The move targets longstanding grievances where institutions allegedly mandate purchases from designated suppliers, hiking costs for families.
He warned, "Any violation will trigger immediate legal action," underscoring the drive's aim to ensure fairness as the new academic session approaches.Schools face clear mandates: they must prominently display book lists—including authors, publishers, prices—and uniform vendor details on premises before classes begin. Raids will span all zones, with FIRs against managements defying public orders, officials said.Parents have hailed the step, flooding social media with relief. "This breaks the monopoly of school-preferred shops," said guardian Mukti Verma, echoing widespread frustrations. The collector stressed a zero-tolerance policy: "Our round-the-clock surveillance guarantees no child or parent endures exploitation."Welcoming the decision, general secretary, MP Parents Association, Prabodh Pandya said, "This is a right time to form such teams. However, important thing is the proper inspection and action against the culprit schools and book shops. We will have a close watch on these aspects."With the new academic session about to start, the administration signals a robust regulatory push on private education, promising stricter oversight to protect families from profiteering. How effective this action proves to be on the ground remains to be seen.