Lok Sabha Question No. 2268 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Funds for Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan  to West Bengal
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Md Abu Taher Khan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2268 ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

Funds for Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan to West Bengal

## 2268. Md Abu Taher Khan:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that schools in West Bengal are facing challenges due to non-receipt of grant of the Government for the financial year 2024-25;
- (b) the reason for delay in disbursement of funds to West Bengal for the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan;
- (c) the reasons for not disbursing the third and fourth installments for the financial year 202324;
- (d) the time by which the grant is released to the State; and
- (e) whether the Government has any plans to increase the grant to the States?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (e): The allocation of Central share to States/UTs under Samagra Shiksha are made as per the Budget Estimates (BE) provided by Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. The financial assistance is provided to States and UTs for implementation of the interventions under Samagra Shiksha. Accordingly, the annual plans under Samagra Shiksha are prepared by the States and UTs based on their requirements and priority and this is reflected in their respective  Annual  Work  Plan  and  Budget  (AWP&B).  These  plans  are  then  appraised  and approved/estimated  by  Project  Approval  Board  (PAB)  in  consultation  with  the  States  and UTs  as  per  the  programmatic  and  financial  norms  of  the  scheme.  The  funds  are  released based  on  the  fulfillment  of  conditions  prescribed  by  Ministry  of  Finance  such  as  pace  of expenditure,  receipt  of  commensurate  State  share,  audited  accounts,  statement  cumulative

State share, statement on outstanding advances, up-to date expenditure statement, furnishing of  information  as  prescribed  in  the  Manual  on  Financial  Management  &  Procurement  and audited utilization certificate of previous year. The scheme of Samagra Shiksha not only provides support for the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 but has also been aligned with the recommendations of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The scheme has been extended for a period of five years i.e., from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) supplements the efforts of Samagra  Shiksha.  These  schools  are  to  showcase  the  implementation  of  the  National Education Policy 2020 and emerge as exemplar schools over a period of time, and also offer leadership to other schools in the neighbourhood. States and UTs are required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education, Government of  India,  for  implementation  of  PM  SHRI  scheme.  Out  of  36  States/UTs,  33 States/UTs  have  signed  the  MoU  so  far.  Three  States,  including  West  Bengal,  have  not signed the PM SHRI MoU. The issue of PM SHRI MoU has been followed up with requests and reminders at the level of Secretary and Union Minister. Total  amount  approved  as  Proposed  Central  Share  Release  to  West  Bengal  under Samagra Shiksha during the last 5 years i.e. 2019-20 to 2023-24 is Rs. 7853.65 Crore. An amount of Rs. 6049.56 Crore has been released to the State during the period. This  Department  has  launched  the  PRABANDH  (Project  Appraisal,  Budgeting Achievements and Data Handling) System. One of the important features of the PRABANDH System is updation of Expenditure incurred under the different interventions of the Samagra Shiksha. For this purpose, a data visualization Dashboard has been created in the PRABANDH System for display of monthly status of physical and financial progress under the major interventions of the Samagra Shiksha. Regular follow ups and review meetings are held  with  the  States/UTs  ensuring  an  integrated  approach  for  monitoring  and  smooth implementation of the schemes.

****