Question : SSA

(a) whether short release of funds under Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Scheme to State Government
is replenished by the Government and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether some State Governments have been given advance to meet out expenditure under SSA
which is more than their share including Rajasthan Government which has advanced Rs. 2828.60
crore which is yet to be released by the Government;
(c) if so, the time frame by which payment is likely to be made to Rajasthan Government; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a) to (d): The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) provides support
for implementing the provisions of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE)
Act, 2009. Section 7(1) of the RTE Act, 2009, states that both the Centre and the State shall have
concurrent responsibility for providing funds for carrying out the provisions of the Act. Section
7(3) states that the Central Government shall provide to the State Government, as grants-in-aid of
revenues, such percentage of expenditure as it may determine, while Section 7(5) states that the
State Government shall, taking into consideration the sums provided by the Central Government to
a State Government, be responsible to provide funds for the implementation of the provisions of the
Act.
Under the SSA programme, financial support, as per the existing funds sharing pattern and
availability of budget is provided for implementation of the approved components of the Scheme.
The Central share is released to the States in two or more installments according to the General
Financial Rules (GFR).
With the acceptance of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission by the
Government of India, the devolution of funds to the States has been increased from 32% to 42% of
the net Union Tax Receipts. With the enhanced devolution of funds, States have been advised to
allocate more funds to SSA so as to carry out the functions and responsibilities conferred upon the
States by Section 7(5) of the Act.
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