Lok Sabha Question No. 1088 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-17
Subject: Education for All
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: AJAY (TENI) MISRA, BHARAT SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1088 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## Education for All

## † 1088.    SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI: SHRI BHARAT SINGH:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to open new centrally sponsored education centres to provide better education to the students in far flung rural areas and if so, the details thereof; and (b) if not, the reasons therefor ?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) and (b):   The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides for free and compulsory education for children of the age 6-14 years for classes I to VIII.  The RTE Act  became  operational  w.e.f.  01.04.2010.  SSA  was  designated  as  a  vehicle  programme  for universalization  of  elementary  education  up-to  2017-18,  which  was  implemented  in  consultation and coordination of States/UTs throughout the country. Now, SSA along-with other two centrally sponsored  schemes  of  Rashtriya  Madhyamik  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RMSA)  and  Teacher  Education (TE) have been subsumed under a new scheme-Samagra Shiksha, which has been launched in the country from 2018-19.  It is an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from  pre-school  to  class  XII  and  aims  to  ensure  inclusive  and  equitable  quality  education  at  all levels of school education.  Now, the provisions of RTE Act 2009 are implemented through the Samagra Shiksha.

The  States/UTs  are  assisted  by  the  central  government  to  implement  the  Samagra Shiksha as a programme for providing universal access and retention, bridging of gender and social category gaps in education and enhancement of learning level of children at all levels of school education. Further, Section 6 of the RTE Act mandates that the appropriate governments and local authorities shall establish, within the area or limits of a neighbourhood, a school, where it is not already  established,  within  a  period  of  three  years  from  the  commencement  of  the  Act.  In  this regard, Central rules provide for the establishment of primary schools and upper primary schools within a distance of one kilometre and three kilometre of the neighbourhood, respectively. Samagra Shiksha  provides  for  infrastructure  development  in  schools,  distribution  of  free  text  books  and uniforms, financial support for additional teacher posts,  teacher training,  composite  school grant etc. for universalization of education at elementary level.

Preference  for  opening  of  new  school  is  given  to  tribal  areas,  and  areas  with  high concentration  of  Scheduled  Caste  (SC),  Scheduled  Tribe  (ST)  and  minority  population. The districts  with  high  concentration of population of SCs, STs and Muslims have been identified as Special Focus Districts (SFDs) for ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education. Since  the  inception  of  SSA  in  2001,  sanction  has  been  given  for  opening  of  3.64  lakh  new elementary  schools  and  for  construction  of  3,12,747  school  buildings,  18,89,689  additional classrooms,  2,40,564 drinking water facilities and 10,63,164 school toilets.  States and UTs have reported  opening  up  of  3.59  lakh  new  elementary  schools  and  construction  of  2,95,382  school buildings, 18,08,452 additional classrooms, 2,33,956 drinking water facilities and 10,11,518 toilets as  on  30.09.2018.    Besides, Kasturba  Gandhi  Balika  Vidyalayas  (KGBVs)  for  girls  belonging predominantly to the SC, ST, Other Backward Caste and minorities, have played an important role in  furthering  the  goal  of  girls'  education  in  educationally  backward  blocks  of  the  country. Accordingly,  3703  KGBVs  have  been  sanctioned  under  SSA  upto  2017-18.    Under  Samagra shiksha  provision  has  been  made  for  upgradation  of  KGBVs  upto  senior  secondary  level. Provisions have also been made for 1020 residential schools/hostels 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.

The RTE Act makes specific provision for Special Training for age-appropriate admission for out-of-school children in urban and rural areas.  Special Training centres are to function within the school premises, as far as possible. Approval has been given for special training of 8.08 lakh children with the financial outlay of Rs. 56353.95 lakh in 2018-19.

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