Lok Sabha Question No. 245 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Renovation of Old Buildings of Schools in Karnataka
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Sumalatha Ambareesh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 245

ANSWERED ON 5 th  FEBRUARY, 2024

## RENOVATION OF OLD BUILDINGS OF SCHOOLS IN KARNATAKA

245. SHRIMATI SUMALATHA AMBAREESH:

- Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has noticed that a large number of buildings of primary and secondary Government schools in Karnataka are very old; (b) if so, the details of steps taken by the Government to renovate such old school buildings; (c) whether the Government has issued guidelines for analysing and renovating school buildings to ensure the safety of children and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government provides funds for ensuring the safety of school buildings; (e) if so, the details of the funds granted in this regard along with the funds utilised by the State of Karnataka since 2019; and (f)  whether  any  study  has  been  conducted  by  the  Government  for  the  structural strength of the Central and the State Government schools at Mandya and if so, the
- details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a & b): Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha, various aspects of school education such as infrastructure facilities including major repairs in respect of school buildings, are reviewed from time to time. Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) is prepared by the States and UTs based on their requirements and priorities and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education at the beginning  of every year. These plans are then appraised and approved by PAB in consultation with the States and UTs as per the programmatic and financial norms of the Scheme and availability of budgetary resources.

A  sum  of  Rs.  4658.25  lakh  was  allocated  to  State  of  Karnataka  for  infrastructure facilities under Samagra Shiksha for the year 2022-23. In addition, as a special case, an allocation of Rs.14342.40 lakh was made for Karnataka for rejuvenation of basic infrastructure in Govt. Schools in the year 2022-23. In the current Financial Year 202324, Rs. 2609.00 Lakh has been allocated for infrastructure facilities.

(c):  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  (DoSEL),  Ministry  of  Education, Govt. of India issued guidelines dated 01.10.2021 on School Safety and Security. The guidelines  address  inter  alia  various  dimensions  of  safety  and  security  of  children studying  in  Government,  Government-aided  and  Private  Schools  and  contain provisions for fixing the accountability of the school management in the matter. These guidelines have been circulated to all States/UTs and Autonomous Bodies of DoSEL. These  guidelines  are  uploaded  on  the  website  of  DoSEL  at  guidelines\_sss.pdf (education.gov.in) .

(d)  to  (f):  Under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Samagra  Shiksha,  financial assistance is provided to States for infrastructure facilities through direct programme funding and also in convergence with other relevant schemes of the Central and State Governments. In the period 2018-19 to 2023-24, 11012 major repair works have been sanctioned under Samagra Shiksha, out of which 8348 have been completed. For this purpose, an amount of Rs. 4991.71 lakh was allocated for these works, out of which Rs. 755.34 lakh has been expended. Further, an amount of Rs. 90 lakh for 7 Major Repair  Works  in  respect  of  Mandya  district  in  Karnataka  have  been  approved. Structural  study  of  school  buildings  of  JNV  Mandya  was  conducted  by  Faculty  of Engineering  -  Civil  Bangalore  University  during  September,  2021.  In  addition, measures such as providing amenities like compound walls and lighting around school premises through convergence and corporate social responsibility (CSR) endeavors are undertaken from time to time.

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