Lok Sabha Question No. 2054 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Right to Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, Shrirang Appa Barne, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, V. SATHYABAMA, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, S. RAJENDRAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2054 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 st  NOVEMBER, 2016

## Right to Education

2054.  SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE: SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO: SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI S. RAJENDRAN:

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

- (a)  whether  the  freshly  released  Census  2011  data  has  revealed  that  a  huge  number  of children still do not go to school in the Country and another considerable number of children are forced to earn a livelihood while they attend school and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the said number of children is covered under the Right to Education Act and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  major  reasons  that  keep  such  children  away from school and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the steps taken by the Government to ensure that the children of the said category attend school?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b):  Census 2011 has reported that 8.4 crore children do not go to school in the age group of 5 - 17 years. Under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act,  2009  the  mandated  age  group  for  free  and  compulsory  elementary  education  in  a neighbourhood school is 6-14 years. The age group of  5-17 years quoted in the Census data, thus, includes one year of pre-schooling age (5 years) and 3 years of above elementary age which is of secondary and senior secondary level of schooling.

According  to  Census  2011,  the  number  of  children  who  do  not  attend  schools  (including never attended and attended before) in the age group of 6-13 years are 3.8 crore. Census 2011 has shown a marked decline in the number of out of school children in this age group from 5.8 crore in 2001 to 3.8 crore in 2011, a 35% decline over a period of ten years.

The RTE Act, 2009, which became operative with effect from 1 st April, 2010, mandates that all  children  in  the  age  group  of  6-14  years  shall  be  in  schools  for  completing  elementary education. Section 4 of the RTE Act, 2009 provides for special training for age appropriate admission of out of school children. Those children who have missed out certain academic years  either  because  they  were  never  enrolled  in  school  or    dropped  out  of  school,  have  a right  to  Special  Training  in  residential  and  non  residential  mode,  subsequently  to  be mainstreamed in formal schools in age appropriate class.

(c): As  per an independent  survey  commissioned  by  Ministry  of  Human  Resource Development in 2014, 60.64 lakh children were estimated to out of school in the age group of 6 to 13 years. As per the survey findings, reasons for not attending the school include, interalia,  poverty/economic  reasons,  child  not  interested  in  studies,  girls  needed  to  help  in domestic work or to take care of siblings, boys required to supplement household income and education not considered necessary by the head of the household.

(d): The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) provides assistance to State  Governments  and  UTs  to  ensure  quality  elementary  education  for  all  children. Universal enrolment is the first goal of SSA, and hence all efforts are being made to bring all children in schools. SSA has provided 2.04 lakh primary and 1.59 lakh upper primary schools for ensuring universal provisioning of schooling facilities. Preference for opening of school is given to tribal areas, and areas with high concentration of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and  minority  population.  In  addition,  3609  Kasturba  Gandhi  Balika  Vidyalayas,  which  are residential schools for girls at upper primary level, have also been sanctioned to the States for improving  access  to  marginalised  girls  particularly  out  of  school,  either  drop  out  or  never enrolled. The number of total children enrolled at elementary level has increased from 15.1 crores in 1998-99 to 19.7 crore at present.

Under SSA, provisions have also been made for residential schools/hostels and transportation/ escort facility for children living in sparsely populated areas, children living in areas where schools cannot be opened due to unavailability of land and children in need of care  and  protection.  Special  training  is  also  provided  to  all  such  children  who  are  school dropouts and long absentees and they are enrolled in 'back to school' camps.

Additionally, other strategies adopted under SSA such as strengthening school infrastructure, improving pupil-teacher ratios, providing incentives like free textbooks, uniforms for eligible category of children and mid-day meal in schools have proved to be useful in increasing the enrolment of children in elementary schools.

To further work on this issue and in pursuance of a resolution adopted in the 63 rd Meeting of the  Central  Advisory  Board  of  Education  (CABE)  held  on  19 th August,  2015  under  the Chairpersonship of Hon'ble Minister of Human Resource Development, a Sub-Committee of CABE under Chairpersonship  of  Minister  of  State  for  Human  Resource  Development  has been constituted  to  'Devise  Pathway for Re-Engaging Out of School Children' vide Order dated 06.11.2015.

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