Education in India has long been the realm of the privileged but a new law has made it a fundamental right for all children between the ages of 6 and 14.

The Right to Education Act, approved last year by India's lower house of Parliament and implemented April 1, ensures that each child will be able to attend school at no cost to the student or parents. Currently, about 60 percent of all Indians can read or write, U.S. statistics indicate.

When India was basking in glory over its remarkably high gross domestic product growth rate, many frowned at the low literacy rate and considered India’s economic growth to be superficial in the backdrop of widespread illiteracy, especially among the poor. The Right to Education Act, which will help an estimated 8 million children who currently don't attend school, is a response to those critics.

Putul, a maid who earns roughly $33 per month, said she can’t afford to send her children to school.

“But now, their going to school does not seem unlikely,” she said.

About 1.2 million teachers are needed to fulfill the law’s requirements, India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development says. Nationwide recruitment drives for teachers have begun. Before April 1, non-governmental organizations such as Teach for India were recruiting teachers to overcome the education crisis in India. Government and non-government officials say they’re not worried about finding enough teachers to fill the slots.

Throughout India, in thousands of villages, this legislation is expected to herald a new beginning for children who have thus far been forced to live without education, primarily because of poverty.

“This is an edict that can bring about wide-ranging fruits”, said Rina Guharoy, a primary school teacher.

“This should have been done earlier, nevertheless due credit should go to the lawmakers for the blessing.”

But not everyone believes the law is good for India.

“It will make things worse. Compulsory government schooling cannot make the populace literate or educated,” said Madhusudan Raj, a human resources professor at South Gujarat University.

"We do not need any government education. Nor do we need any such acts. The only right an individual has is on his own life, liberty and property,” he said. “This is not the solution."

It’s too soon to know how the country will be impacted by the new law, said Akash Acharya, an economics professor at the Center for Social Studies.

“Its impact can only be seen in its abiding execution,” he said.