Lok Sabha Question No. 3021 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-31
Subject: Higher Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK, RAMA DEVI, RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3021 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 st  DECEMBER, 2018

## Higher Education

†3021. SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK:

SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

SHRI RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY:

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

- (a) whether the University Grants Commission (UGC) has identified the educationally backward  districts  of  Jharkhand  and  Bihar  where  the  ratio  of  total  registration  for higher education is below the national average percentage;
- (b) if so, the names thereof and the districts which had been identified on the basis of census 2011; and
- (c) the efforts made/being made to improve the quality of higher education in these districts?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):  An  Expert  Committee  constituted  by  the  University  Grants  Commission (UGC)  had  identified  374  Educationally  Backward  Districts  (EBDs)  where  Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education was less than the national average of 12.4%  based  on  2001  census  data.  Amongst  the  374  EBDs,  12  districts  were identified in the State of Jharkhand and 25 districts in the State of Bihar. The list of 12 EBDs in the State of Jharkhand and 25 EBDs in the State of Bihar is annexed.

The  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Rashtriya  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan (RUSA) is being implemented by the Ministry of Human Resource Development with the  aim  of  promoting  access,  equity  and  quality.  The  scheme, inter  alia ,  provides central assistance to States for creation of New Model Degree Colleges, upgradation of  existing  degree  colleges  to  Model  Degree  Colleges,  Infrastructure  grants  to college and universities, New colleges (Professional) etc.

As on date, under various components, the Project Approval Board (PAB) of RUSA  has  approved  an  amount  of  Rs.  240  crores  in  12  EBDs  in  the  State  of Jharkhand and an amount of Rs. 108.85 crores, in 10 EBDs in the State of Bihar.

***

Annexure referred to in parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. †3021 to be answered on 31 st December, 2018 regarding Higher Education asked by Shri Vijay Kumar Hansdak, Shrimati Rama Devi and Shri Ram Tahal Choudhary, Hon'ble MPs.

## List of Educationally Backward Districts (EBDs) identified as per 2001 census data in the State of Bihar and Jharkhand

| Bihar   | Bihar           | Jharkhand   | Jharkhand         |
|---------|-----------------|-------------|-------------------|
| S.No    | Name of the EBD | S.No        | Name of the EBD   |
| 1.      | Araria          | 1.          | Chatra            |
| 2.      | Aurangabad      | 2.          | Deoghar           |
| 3.      | Banka           | 3.          | Dumka             |
| 4.      | Begusarai       | 4.          | Garhwa            |
| 5.      | Darbhanga       | 5.          | Girdih            |
| 6.      | Gopalgunj       | 6.          | Godda             |
| 7.      | Jamui           | 7.          | Gumla             |
| 8.      | Kaimur          | 8.          | Kodarma           |
| 9.      | Katihar         | 9.          | Pakaur            |
| 10.     | Khagaria        | 10.         | Palamu            |
| 11.     | Kishanganj      | 11.         | Paschim Singhbhum |
| 12.     | Lakhisarai      | 12.         | Sahibganj         |
| 13.     | Madhepura       |             |                   |
| 14.     | Madhubani       |             |                   |
| 15.     | Nawada          |             |                   |
| 16.     | W. Champaran    |             |                   |
| 17.     | E. Champaran    |             |                   |
| 18.     | Purnia          |             |                   |
| 19.     | Saharsa         |             |                   |
| 20.     | Samastipur      |             |                   |
| 21.     | Sheohar         |             |                   |
| 22.     | Sitamarhi       |             |                   |
| 23.     | Siwan           |             |                   |
| 24.     | Supaul          |             |                   |
| 25      | Vaishali        |             |                   |