Question : PADHE BHARAT BADHE BHARAT

(a) whether the Government has launched `Padhe Bharat, Badhe Bharat` programme, a sub-programme of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) focusing on early reading, writing, comprehension and mathematics and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has requested the States to roll out the said programme in their States;

(c) if so, the response of the States thereto;

(d) the funds allocated by the Government for the purpose; and

(e) the other steps taken by the Government for an all round development of the children under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan?

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

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 43 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.11.2014 ASKED BY SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK AND SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE REGARDING ‘PADHE BHARAT BADHE BHARAT’

(a) to (e): Yes, Madam. A sub-programme under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) namely ‘Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat’ has been launched in all States/UTs to improve language development in reading, writing with comprehension and to create a positive interest in mathematics.

All States and UT’s are taking interest in implementing this programme. An amount of Rs 461.38 crore has been sanctioned to States/UTs in 2014-15 for implementing this focussed programme in classes 1 and 2.

Other steps undertaken in the SSA for quality improvement include, inter alia, provision for annual in-service teacher training, distribution of free textbooks, recruitment of additional teachers to improve pupil-teacher ratios, academic support for schools and teachers through block and cluster resource centres, a continuous and comprehensive evaluation system and pupil assessment surveys. Education of Children With Special Needs (CWSN) is also an important component of SSA programme. In the current year, 25.03 lakh CWSN are enrolled in schools and 2.06 lakh CWSN are being covered through home based education. A handbook on curricular adaptation for CWSN was also released on 26.8.2014.