Lok Sabha Question No. 1812 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-31
Subject: Participation of Girls and Women in Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Hema Malini

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1812 ANSWERED ON - 31.07.2023

## PARTICIPATION OF GIRLS AND WOMEN IN EDUCATION

## † 1812 . SHRIMATI HEMA MALINI :

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any provision has been made by the Government in National Education Policy 2020 to increase the participation of girls and women in education;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether a provision has been made in National Education Policy 2020 for setting up a Gender Inclusion Fund; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): The  National  Education  Policy  (NEP),  2020  focuses  on  'Equitable  and  Inclusive Education' which reverberates the idea that no child should be left behind in terms of educational opportunity because of their background and socio-cultural identities. It has taken into account the concerns of the  Socio-Economically Disadvantaged  Groups (SEDGs)  which includes female  and transgender individuals. In addition, NEP prescribes to approach gender as a cross-cutting priority to  achieve  gender  equality  in  education  with  the  partnership  of  states  and  local  community organizations.

National Education Policy, 2020  provides  for  setting  up  a  Gender  Inclusion  Fund  (GIF) especially  for  girls  and  transgender  students  to  build  the  nation's  capacity  to  provide  equitable quality education for all girls as well as transgender students. The objectives of NEP for equitable and quality  education  for  girl  children  are  being  met  through  specific  provisions  under  Samagra Shiksha  2.0  by  allocating  dedicated  resources  for  Socio-Economically  Disadvantaged  Groups (SEDGs).  Under Samagra Shiksha, various interventions have been targeted for providing quality education to girls, which include opening of schools in the neighbourhood to make access easier for girls,  free  uniform  and  text-books  to  girls  up  to  class  VIII,  additional  teachers  and  residential quarters  for  teachers  in  remote/hilly  areas,  appointment  of  additional  teachers  including  women teachers,  stipend  to  CWSN  girls  from  class  I  to  class  XII,  separate  toilets  for  girls,  teachers' sensitization programmes to promote girls participation, gender-sensitive teaching-learning materials including text books etc.

In addition, to reduce gender gaps at all levels of school education, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas  (KGBVs),  which  are  residential  schools  from  class  VI  to  XII  for  girls  belonging  to disadvantaged  groups  such  as  SC,  ST,  OBC,  Minority  and  Below  Poverty  Line  (BPL),  are sanctioned in Educationally Backward Blocks. As on 30.06.2023, a total of 5639 KGBVs have been sanctioned  in  the  country  with  the  enrolment  of  6.88  lakh  girls.  The  task  of  up-gradation  of  the KGBVs was started in the year 2018-19 and till the year 2022-23, a total of 357 KGBVs have been approved for up-gradation to Type-II (class 6-10) and 2010 KGBVs have been approved for upgradation to Type-III (class 6-12).

*******