(a) whether the Government has maintained any data relating to the children not going to
schools in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise; and
(c) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to ensure cent per cent enrolment of all
the children in the schools?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a) & (b): As per an independent survey commissioned in 2014 by Ministry of Human
Resource Development, 60.64 lakh children were estimated to be out of school in the age
group of 6 to 13 years. State/UT-wise details are at Annexure.
(c): The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 provisions for free
and compulsory education to children between the age group of 6-14 years. The Centrally
Sponsored Scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) provides assistance to State
Governments/UTs to ensure quality elementary education for all children. Universal
enrolment is the first goal of SSA, and hence all efforts are being made to bring all children in
schools. SSA has provided 2.04 lakh primary and 1.59 lakh upper primary schools for
ensuring universal provisioning of schooling facilities. Preference for opening of school is
given to tribal areas, and areas with high concentration of SC, ST and minority population. In
addition, 3609 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, which are residential schools for girls at
upper primary level, have also been sanctioned to the States for improving access to
marginalised girls particularly out of school, either drop out or never enrolled. Since, in 1998-
99 (pre SSA) the number of total children enrolled at elementary level was 15.1 crores, which
at present stands at 19.7 crore.
Under SSA, provisions have also been made for residential schools/hostels and transportation/
escort facility for children living in sparsely populated areas, children living in areas where
schools cannot be opened due to unavailability of land and children in need of care and
protection. Special training is also provided to all such children who are school dropouts and
long absentees and they are enrolled in “back to school” camps.
Additionally, other strategies adopted under SSA such as strengthening school infrastructure,
improving pupil-teacher ratios, providing incentives like free textbooks, uniforms for eligible
category of children and mid-day meal in schools have proved to be useful in increasing the
enrolment of children in elementary schools.
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