Question : SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN

(a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme at the national level for giving special attention to backward areas, States and districts under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is considering to launch an extensive programme at the national level to check the disparities and backwardness at the district level;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) the outcome of the efforts made for the upgradation of standard of education in the said backward districts so far; and

(f) the time by which these areas are likely to be brought at par with the national standard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a) to (f): The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is implemented in all districts of the country, however, special attention is given to districts with substantial Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and muslim minority population, districts affected by left wing extremism, border area districts, districts with high gender gap in enrolment and with high dropouts, in terms of allocations of schools infrastructure, interventions to promote girls education and additional interventions to bring out of school children to schools. The progress of SSA in such districts is closely monitored. Due to these efforts, inter alia, progress in SSA has shown a decline in out of school children in the SC, ST and minority groups in the 6–14 years age group, reduction in dropouts and rapid augmentation of schools infrastructure in these districts.