Lok Sabha Question No. 2414 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-09
Subject: Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2414

## TO BE ANSWERED ON  9 th  May, 2016

## Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat

## 2414. SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of schools targeted under the Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat programme, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether all the primary schools of Himachal Pradesh are covered under the programme, if not, the reasons thereof;
- (c) the details of activities undertaken as part of the programme and the amount of funds released so far;
- (d) whether the Government has conducted an outcome survey, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the details of challenges in implementing the scheme and the steps taken by the Government to adhere to them?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) & (b): 'Padhe  Bharat  Badhe  Bharat'  (PBBB)  is  a  sub-programme  of  Sarva Shiksha  Abhiyan  (SSA)  which  is  a  centrally  sponsored  scheme  implemented  to support  the  States/UTs  for  universalization  of  elementary  education  across  the country. It was launched in August, 2014 to ensure quality at the foundational years of  schooling.  The  objectives  of  the  programme  are  to  promote  early  reading  and writing  with  comprehension  skills  in  children,  and  also  basic  numeracy  skills.  All Government  and  Government  aided primary schools across India, including Himachal Pradesh, are targeted under PBBB.
- (c):   The activities under PBBB include having dedicated teachers for classes I and II, setting up of reading corners in classrooms, having dedicated period for reading in the school time table and availability of a variety of reading material in the form of

supplementary readers for children. States/UTs have been approved funds amounting to Rs. 456 crores in 2014-15 and Rs. 525 crores in 2015-16 for various activities under PBBB.

No  outcome  survey  has  been  conducted  to  assess  the  impact  of  PBBB separately.  However,  National  Achievement  Surveys  are  being  carried  out  over  the years by National Council for Educational Research and Training to assess learning

(d): achievement of children in classes - III, V, VIII, and X.

(e): The  Central  Government  has  taken  various  steps  towards  addressing  the challenges  faced  in  the  implementation  of  the  scheme  of  PBBB,  which  inter-alia, include  preparation  of  special  bridge  materials  for  States  having  a  high  tribal population; release of funds approved for the activities including provisioning of free textbooks,  development  and  procurement  of  supplementary  reading  material;  inservice  teacher  training;  having  dedicated  teachers  for  foundational  classes  and maintaining the required Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) as prescribed under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

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