Long queues in 'designated' shops

CHANDIGARH:When it comes to buying books for children studying in private schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), parents have to go through the ordeal of standing in the queue for long hours under hot weather conditions, as they are left with no option but to go to shops `designated' by private schools. As the books are provided by certain shops only, the parents have no option but to wait their turn in long queues.
Most of the private schools have reportedly told the parents of children upto class VIII that the books will be available in a particular shop only.The parents of children studying in different schools are not only complaining of having to travel a long way to allotted book shops but also about shortage of stock.
One of the parents, Malvika, whose daughter is studying in one of the prominent convent schools of the city said she had come to buy books after the school referred her to a shop in sector 7. 'The school has not given us any list of books but has referred us to this shop. It would be better that we have more options, so that we don't have to stand in long queues. I think the problem will be solved if books of the same school are availabile at more shops,' she said.
A similar situation prevailed in another popular book shop in sector-19 where a huge crowd was waiting in queue to buy books.
Claiming that private schools have tied up with particular shops for the benefit of parents, HS Mamik, president of independent schools association, said till class VIII every school prescribes its own books and it is for the benefit of parents that these are made available at one place. No book store will order the books of every school until and unless they are given an assurance of sale, he said.
Vaneet Kaur, who had come from Mohali to buy books for her children, said she came to the shop as per the direction of her kids' school. Joginder Singh, another parent standing outside a Sector-7 bookshop, complained that even after making several rounds of the shop, he had not been able to get all the books as the entire set was not available. On parents not being provided a list of books, he added, 'Schools have apparently displayed lists on notice boards and parents can buy books from anywhere. Since these are not available everywhere, parents end up at the referred stores.'
Rakesh Sachdeva, the principal of DAV school, Sector 15, said it is better for parents that they get all books from one store as many shops don't keep the entire set. 'We just order the book store for a certain number of books to ensure that the parents don't face any shortage,' she said.
Regional officer of CBSE, RJ Khanderao, said though the sale of books is banned on school campuses, he is not aware of any tie-ups of schools with book stores. 'I will look into the matter as soon as I get a written complaint,' he said.