Lok Sabha Question No. 332 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Lack of Facilities for Quality Education
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Ram Shiromani Verma

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 332 ANSWERED ON - 24/03/2025

## LACK OF FACILITIES FOR QUALITY EDUCATION

†*332. Shri Ram Shiromani Verma:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  about  the  lack  of  modern  infrastructure,  basic facilities and access to modern teaching equipments to provide high quality education to the children in the Government schools and Government aided schools of the remote and rural areas of Uttar Pradesh particularly in the aspirational districts of Shravasti and Balrampur;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in the aspirational districts of Shravasti and Balrampur to address the said issues; (c)  whether  any  efforts  have  been  made/are  being  made  by  the  Government  to construct roads in villages which do not have any road for the children to reach the said schools; and (d)  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  find  a  permanent  solution  for  the waterlogging  problems  in  the  Government  schools  during  the  rainy  season  which
- causes great difficulty to the children in commuting and studying?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  332  ANSWERED  ON  24 TH   MARCH,  2025  ASKED  BY SHRI RAM SHIROMANI VERMA, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

REGARDING LACK OF FACILITIES FOR QUALITY EDUCATION (a)  to  (d):  The  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  is  implementing  an integrated  centrally  sponsored  scheme  for  School  education-  Samagra  Shiksha  with effect from the year 2018-19. The Scheme is aligned with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to ensure that all children have access to  quality  education  with  an  equitable  and  inclusive  classroom  environment,  which takes care of their diverse background, multilingual needs, different academic abilities and makes them active participants in the learning process. Under  Samagra  Shiksha,  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  the  States/UTs including  Uttar  Pradesh  for  creation  and  augmentation  of  infrastructure  facilities  to strengthen the existing school infrastructure. The requirement of infrastructural facilities in schools are worked out every year by the respective State/Union Territory depending on their need and priority and reflected in their Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B) proposals.  These  plans  are  then  appraised  and  approved  by  the  Project  Approval Board (PAB) in the Department in consultation with the States and Union Territories as per  the  programmatic  and  financial  norms  of  the  scheme,  physical  and  financial progress of works sanctioned earlier and availability of budgetary resources. As  informed  by  the  Government  of  Uttar  Pradesh,  the  State  Government launched the Operation Kayakalp program in  the State, which focuses on renovating and creating child- and Divyang-friendly infrastructure in all Government primary, upper primary and composite schools of Uttar Pradesh. Under this program, key parameters such  as  toilets  (including  CWSN-friendly),  safe  drinking  water,  electricity,  classroom furniture, and boundary walls are covered. As  a  result  of  this  large-scale  initiative,  the  average  saturation  of  the  key parameters across schools has increased. Furthermore, Operation Kayakalp has been implemented  across  all  districts  of  Uttar  Pradesh,  including  aspirational  districts  like Shravasti and Balrampur , where infrastructure development has been a priority. In the districts of Shravasti and Balrampur, the saturation levels for the key parameters have reached 92%  and  94% ,  respectively,  ensuring  that  even  the  most  underdeveloped regions benefit from improved  educational facilities. Through  this initiative, the Government  aims  to  create  a  more  inclusive,  safe,  and  well-equipped  learning environment  for  all  children,  particularly  those  with  special  needs,  thereby  fostering better educational outcomes across the state. Further, education is a subject in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and most of the schools come under the administrative domain of the concerned States and UTs which  are  the  appropriate  Government  under  the  Right  of  Children  to  Free  and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and have the responsibility and mandate to provide  infrastructure  in  schools  in  accordance  with  the  norms  laid  down  in  the Schedule to the RTE Act, 2009 and as per respective State RTE Rules. Further, the State/UT Governments are also responsible to provide ease of access to schools and remove all the infrastructural barriers that may hamper/restrict the students' access to

schools.

As informed by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, instructions have been given to  take  action  regarding  filling  of  soil  and  making  arrangements  for  drainage  in  the school premises under MNREGA in the Govt. schools of the State.

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