Lok Sabha Question No. 2143 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-24
Subject: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Funds
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ARJUNLAL MEENA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2143 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Funds

## †2143.    SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  release  funds  for  adjustment  of  advance under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan;
- (b) if so, the time by when funds are likely to be released; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a)  to  (c):    The  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Sarva  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (SSA)  is under implementation since 2000-2001  for universalizing elementary education through coordinated and collaborative efforts with the States and UTs.    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 Integrated Scheme for School Education-Samagra Shiksha, which has been launched 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. Under  the  schemes,  all  States  and  UTs  submit  their  proposals  through  their Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B).  Based on their proposal, the Project Approval Board (PAB) in the Ministry of Human Resource Development approves an estimate as per the programmatic and financial norms of the scheme. The SSA was designated as the vehicle for implementing the Right of Children to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009,  now  these  provisions  are implemented through Samagra Shiksha from 2018-19. Section 7(1) of the RTE Act,

2009, states that both the Centre and the State shall have concurrent responsibility for providing  funds  for  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  Act.   Section  7(2)  states  that estimate for implementing the Act shall be prepared by Central Government.  Further, Section 7(3) states that the Central  Government shall provide to the State Government, as grants-in-aid of revenues, such percentage of expenditure as it may determine,  while, Section  7(5)  states  that  the  State  Government  shall,  taking  into consideration the sums provided by the Central Government to a State Government, be responsible to provide funds for the implementation of the provisions of the Act. The  Ministry  of  Finance,  Government  of  India  allocate/earmark  the  Budget Estimate/Revised Estimate (BE/RE) provision at the beginning of the financial year for the  SSA/Samagra  Shiksha.  The  funds  provided  at  BE/RE  stage  are  released  as central  share  to  State  and  UTs,  for  the  implementation  of  the  interventions  as approved  by  the  Project  Approval  Board  (PAB),  as  per  the  prevalent  fund  sharing pattern. The Central share is released in different installments viz. ad-hoc installment, balance of 1 st installment and the 2 nd installment.    The approved amount of fund was earlier  released  by  Central/State  Government directly to State Implementing Society (SIS)  created  by  the  State  Government  for  implementation  of  different  activities mandated  in  SSA  Framework.  However  from  2014-15,  central  share  has  been released to the State/UTs and after receipt of central share, State/UTs further release the funds to SISs along-with the proportionate state share.  The Central Government releases  funds  to  State/UTs  in  lump-sum  and  intervention-wise  releases  are  not made.   After  closure  of  the  previous  financial  year,  the  amount  of  fund  left-over becomes  the  unspent  balance  of  the  previous  year  and  this  amount  of  unspent balance is taken into account (as per the funding pattern), while releasing the central share  for  implementing  the  approved  interventions  during  the  subsequent  next financial year. With the acceptance of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission by the Government of India, the devolution of funds to the States has been increased from  32%  to  42%  of  the  net  Union  Tax  Receipts.  With  the  enhanced  devolution  of funds, States have been advised to allocate more funds to SSA so as to carry out the functions and responsibilities conferred upon the States by Section 7(5) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

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