Lok Sabha Question No. 1862 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-30
Subject: Development Fee in Navodaya Vidyalayas
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: CHHOTELAL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1862 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.7.2018

## Development Fee in Navodaya Vidyalayas

## 1862. SHRI CHHOTE LAL:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  scrap  the  school  development  fee  being introduced recently in Navodaya Vidyalayas of the country, in near future;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (c)  if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  the  details  of  the  proposal  to  open  new  Navodaya  Vidyalayas  specially  in  eastern  Uttar Pradesh in near future?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):  No  such  proposal  is  under  consideration.   The  students  of  Jawahar  Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) are being provided good quality modern education free of cost along with free boarding and lodging since its inception. Only a nominal fee of Rs. 200 per month per student is charged  from  the  students  of  classes  9th  to  12th  in  the  form  of  Vidyalaya  Vikas  Nidhi (VVN) with  effect from July 2003. All girl students, students belonging to the SC/ST communities and boys belonging to the BPL families are exempt from paying this fee.  Thus, the VVN is collected only from a very small percentage of students. VVN fund is being utilised for following activities in JNVs:

1. For expansion of Computer Education Programme and Information Technology.
2. For conducting Yoga Camps, Adventure Activities, Promotion of Sports etc.
3.  For  development  of  Hobby  Centres  and  Junior  Science  Labs  as  part  of  Science  Promotion activities.
4. For organising local excursion trips and cultural activities.
5. For promotion of NCC and Scouts & Guides activities.
6. For Safety, Security and Health care of the children.
7. Quality improvement programmes in academics/Pace Setting Activities.

With a view to providing better facilities to the students of the JNVs as well as for strengthening the security services, hygiene, sanitation and cleaning services etc., the VVN is being enhanced by  NVS  to  Rs.  600  per  month  per  student  w.e.f.  April, 2018.  Students  belonging  to  SC/ST communities, girl  students  and  boys  belonging  to  BPL  families  continue  to  be  exempted  from paying this fee. From those students whose parents are government employees, VVN would be charged at the rate of Rs. 1500 per month w.e.f. April 2018.

(d): The  Navodaya  Vidyalaya  scheme  provides  for  opening  of  one  Jawahar  Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) in each district of the country. Sanctioning of JNVs depends on the willingness of the concerned State Government/UT Administration to make available requisite suitable land free of cost and making available required temporary building, free of rent to run the Vidyalaya till  the  permanent  building  is  constructed.  However,  actual  sanction  and  opening  of  new  JNV depends on availability of funds and approval by the competent authority. Opening of new JNVs is a continuous process and one JNV each has already been sanctioned in all the districts of the country (as on 31 st May, 2014), excluding Tamil Nadu which has not yet accepted the Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme.

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