Lok Sabha Question No. 3083 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Sharing of Funds between Centre and States
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3083 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 th  DECEMBER, 2016

## Sharing of Funds between Centre and States

## 3083. SHRI  S. P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  funding  pattern  of  the  Government  for  certain  schemes  like  Sarva  Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid-Day Meal Scheme between Centre and States has been changed recently and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(b)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  this  is  likely  to  affect  the  effectiveness  of  such schemes in the States and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the States have given concurrence to the revised formula; and

(d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  mechanism  adopted/to  be  adopted  by  the  Government  to monitor the quality and impact of such schemes?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) :      Yes, Madam. It has been decided that the fund sharing pattern of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Schemes will be in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and States;  and  90:10  for  the  8  North-Eastern  States  of  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Assam,  Manipur, Meghalaya,  Mizoram,  Nagaland,  Sikkim  and  Tripura  and  3  Himalayan  States  of  Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand with effect from the year 2015-16. The changes in the  fund  sharing  pattern  are  based  on  the  report  of  the  Sub-Group  of  Chief  Ministers  on Rationalization  of  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  constituted  by  the  National  Institution  for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog.

(b): With  the  acceptance  of  the  recommendation  of  the  14th  Finance  Commission  (FFC)  by Government of India, the devolution to the States  has  increased  from  32%  to  42%  of  the  net Union Tax Receipts.  It is estimated that this entails devolution of additional resources to States as untied funds. Therefore, the changes are not likely to affect the effectiveness of schemes in the States.

(c): The changes in the fund sharing pattern of the SSA and MDM are based on the report of the Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on the rationalization of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs). The Sub - Group undertook extensive consultation with States and UTs including those which were not represented by their Chief Ministers or Lieutenant Governors (LGs) in the Sub-Group. Thus, it is implicit that most of the States are in concurrence with the report of the Sub-Group on fund sharing pattern of the CSSs.

(d):    The  implementation  of  SSA  is  reviewed  twice  every  year  by  a  Joint  Review  Mission comprising independent experts and external funding agencies covering States. The Ministry of Human Resource Development convenes periodic meetings with State Education Ministers and Secretaries  to  review  the  programme  implementation.  Data  on  Educational  indicators  are collected through a Unified District Implementation System of Education (UDISE) every year. National  Achievement  Surveys  (NAS)  are  conducted  to  check  the  health  of  the  educational system and to provide information about the learning achievement of students.

The implementation of MDM is also reviewed regularly through Joint Review Missions so  as  to  assess  the  quality  and  impact  of  the  scheme.    At  national  level,  an  Empowered Committee,  headed  by  Minister,  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development,  a  National  level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee (NSMC) and Programme Approval Board (PAB) monitor the  Scheme  and  suggest  policy  measures  for  effective  implementation  of  the  Scheme.  At  the State level, State level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee headed by Chief Secretary and at the district level a District Level Committee under the Chairpersonship of senior most Member of Parliament of Lok Sabha monitor the scheme. Updated guidelines have been issued on quality, safety  and  hygiene  on  school  level  kitchens  to  all  the  States/UTs  in  February,  2015.    MDM Rules, 2015 provide for mandatory testing of food samples on a monthly basis by Government recognized laboratories to ensure that the meals meet with nutritional standards and quality.  The utilization  of  funds  and  food  grains  is  also  monitored  through  the  Quarterly  Progress  Reports (QPRs) as well as through the Management Information System (MIS).

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