Lok Sabha Question No. 2172 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Kasturba  Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Mani A

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2172 ANSWERED ON 09/12/2024

## KASTURBA GANDHI BALIKA VIDYALAYA

## 2172. Shri Mani A:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  Kasturba  Gandhi  Balika  Vidyalayas  (KGBVs)  currently  operational  in  the country and the number of children enrolled thereon;
- (b) whether the Government has any plans to establish new KGBV in underserved areas, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any studies to assess the impact of KGBVs on girls' education, particularly in rural and marginalized communities, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the steps being taken by the Government to improve the infrastructure and other facilities such as hostels, libraries, and digital classrooms in existing KGBVs; and
- (e) the retention rates of students in KGBVs during the last five years and the measures taken by the Government to address any dropouts?

## ANSWER

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

(a):  A total of 5,133 KGBVs are currently operational in the country with an enrolment of 7.11 lakh girl students.

(b) : All the educationally backward-blocks (EBBs) of the country are covered and have at-least one residential school for girls from Classes VI-XII in every EBB. Proposals received from the States/UTs for sanctioning of new KGBVs are scrutinized and considered by the Project Approval Board (PAB) as  per  norms  under  the  Chairpersonship  of  Secretary  (SE&L)  in  the  Annual  PAB  meetings  of respective State/UTs.

(c) & (d): An evaluation was recently conducted by Department of School Education and Literacy through NCERT in the year 2022-23, to assess the status of KGBVs and work towards enhancement and strengthening.

The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India under  Samagra  Shiksha  provides  financial  support  to  States/UTs  for  providing  infrastructural facilities in KGBVs for their efficient functioning.  Further, funds have also been approved to the States/UTs in the FY 2024-25, as per the proposals submitted by the States/UTs for boundary wall, toilets, dormitories, guard room, ICT labs and Smart Classrooms, etc in the functional KGBVs. The scheme also provides fund for annual maintenance and repair of existing school buildings, toilets and other facilities to upkeep the infrastructure in good condition. Recently, the Department of School Education  &  Literacy,  Ministry  of  Education,  Government  of  India  announced  to  saturate  all functional  KGBVs  with  ICT  (Information  and  Communication  Technology)  Labs  and  Smart Classrooms, as per Samagra Shiksha norms, to empower girl students, make them digitally savvy, and enhance their  learning  outcomes.  Accordingly,  an  amount  of  Rs.  28,841.96  lakhs  have  been approved for the provision of 3,564 ICT labs and 3,655 smart classrooms in KGBVs.

(e):  The overall retention rate of girls has improved during the last five years across all levels of school education. Details are as under:

|                  | year    | year    | year    | year    | year    |
|------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
| Schooling        | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
| Elementary (1-8) | 71.76   | 71.89   | 75.49   | 82.24   | 82.06   |
| Secondary (1-10) | 56.84   | 58.03   | 59.59   | 64.36   | 64.52   |

(Source: UDISE+, All India, all management schools)

Under  Samagra  Shiksha  scheme,  to  increase  student  retention  rates  and  reduce  dropouts including  in  KGBVs,  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  States  and  UTs  for  undertaking  various activities  which  include  opening/strengthening  of  new  schools  upto  senior  secondary  level, construction of school buildings & additional classrooms, free uniforms, free text books, transport allowance and undertaking enrolment & retention drives. Further, special training for age-appropriate admission  of  out  of  school  children  and  residential  as  well  as  non-residential  training  for  older children, seasonal hostels / residential camps, special training centres at worksites, transport/ escort facility are also supported to bring out of school children to the formal schooling system. Financial assistance upto ₹ 2000 per annum is being provided for Out of School Children of age group of 16-19 years,  belonging to socio economically disadvantaged groups, for completing their education through NIOS/SIOS,  for  accessing  course  materials  and  certification.  Further,  States/UTs  conduct  special enrolment drives, awareness campaign on child marriage, community involvement, extra-curricular activities etc.