Lok Sabha Question No. 304 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-16
Subject: Opening of New Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Ramapati Ram Tripathi

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 304 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2020

## Opening of New Schools

## †*304. DR. RAMAPATI RAM TRIPATHI:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to set up new schools in rural/semi-rural areas under various schemes during the next three years;
- (b) if so, the number of schools proposed to be set up, State and year-wise;
- (c) the details of the targets, if any, fixed by the Government in this regard; and
- (d) the action plan prepared by the Government to achieve the targets fixed in this regard?

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## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) to (d):   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (D) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 304 FOR REPLY ON 16.03.2020 ASKED BY HON'BLE MP  DR.  RAMAPATI  RAM  TRIPATHI  REGARDING  OPENING  OF  NEW SCHOOLS

(a) to (d): As per the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 it is the duty of the respective State and Union Territory Government which is the appropriate Government under the RTE Act to provide free and compulsory elementary education to every child of the age 6 to 14 years in a neighbourhood school. In pursuance of Section 6 of the RTE Act, the respective State and Union Territory (UT) Government have notified areas or limits of their neighbourhood norms in their State RTE Rules, factoring in their State specific condition, for opening of schools.

The Central Government, through integrated centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha provides support to the States and UTs for implementing the various provisions of the  RTE  Act,  including  opening/  strengthening  of  schools.  Under  erstwhile  Sarva  Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), till 2017-18 and Samagra Shiksha  effective from 2018-19, sanction has been given for 3.64 lakh new elementary schools out of which States and UTs have reported the opening  of  3.60  lakh  schools.  Under  erstwhile  Rashtriya  Madhyamik  Shiksha  Abhiyan (RMSA), till 2017-18 and Samagra Shiksha  effective from 2018-19, 12994 new secondary schools have been sanctioned, out of which States and UTs have reported opening of 12423 new schools, till 31.12.2019.

Proposals  for  opening  of  new  Kendriya  Vidyalayas  are  considered  only  when received  in  the  prescribed  proforma  from  the  District  Administration  through  the  State Government  concerned.  The  proposals  received  from  various  sponsoring  authorities  for opening of new Kendriya Vidyalayas also have to compete among other proposals under the 'Challenge Method'. There are 1227 Kendriya Vidyalayas (and three abroad) functioning in the country.

The  Navodaya  Vidyalaya  Scheme  provides  for  opening  of  one  Jawahar  Navodaya Vidyalaya  (JNV)  in  each  district  of  the  country  for  providing  good  quality  education  to children predominantly from the rural areas. Opening of new JNVs is a continuous process which depends on the availability of suitable land by the concerned State Government free of cost for construction of school buildings and the required temporary accommodation (free of rent) to start the Vidyalaya. However, actual sanction and opening of the JNV depends on the availability  of  funds  and  approval  by  the  Competent  Authority.  There  are  645  functional Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNV) in the country.