MINISTER OF EDUCATION
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ''NISHANK'')
(a) to (c): Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education is implementing the Samagra Shiksha scheme. Bridging Gender and Social category gaps at all levels of school education is one of the major objectives of the scheme. Samagra Shiksha reaches out to children belonging to Socio-Economic Disadvantaged groups including Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST).
For providing universal access to quality secondary education, the neighbourhood norms notified by the state/UT are applicable for opening of new Secondary schools. In the case of the States and Union Territories, which have not notified the neighbourhood norms for Secondary Schools, Samagra Shiksha provides support for access to secondary schools within a distance of 5 Km of a habitation while ensuring their viability and cost effectiveness.
Samagra Shiksha also focuses on the identified Special Focus Districts (SFDs). Number of Government Secondary schools approved in SC and ST SFDs are as under:
Type of SFD No. of SFDs No. of Govt. Secondary Schools
SC 61 4465
ST 109 7352
(Source: UDISE+ 2018-19 provisional)
In addition to this, under Samagra Shiksha, there is a provision of flexible funds for innovation for States and UTs which, inter-alia, can be used for transport and escort facility to children of Classes IX-XII in form of bus passes, cycles etc.
There is no disparity between primary , upper primary and secondary level, as 97.48% habitations are served by Primary Schools within a radius of 1 km, and 97.01% habitations are served by Upper Primary Schools within a radius of 3 km and 92.59% habitations are served by secondary schools within a radius of 5 km (Source: AWP&B 2020-21).
(d): In the state of Tamil Nadu, various interventions such as free uniforms, free textbooks, reimbursement towards expenditure incurred for 25% of admission under 12 (1)(c) of RTE Act, 2009, special training for age appropriate admission of Out-of-School Children (OoSC), transport facilities and state specific projects for equity etc., are provided to SC/ST children under Samagra Shiksha to encourage the participation of children in schools.
Under Samagra Shiksha, there is a provision of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) which are residential schools from class VI to XII for girls belonging to disadvantaged groups such as SC, ST, OBC, Minority and Below Poverty Line (BPL). A total number of 105 KGBVs have been sanctioned in the State of Tamil Nadu and all are functional having an enrolment of 8966 girls. Out of 8966 girls, 2470 girls belong to SC category and 1805 in ST category.
Meritorious students, including those belonging to SC/ST whose parental income from all sources is not more than Rs. 1,50,000/- can avail scholarship under National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) on the basis of a selection test. In the year 2020-21, 1286 scholarships @ Rs. 12000/- per year per student have been granted to children belongs to SC category of Tamil Nadu State.
(e): The Samagra Shiksha scheme supports states for strengthening of school infrastructure. The scheme also provides for annual maintenance and repair of existing school buildings, toilets and other facilities to upkeep the infrastructure in good condition. ¬¬
Government Secondary Schools in SC and ST SFDs having basic infrastructure facilities in terms of percentage are as under:
Particulars Schools with building Drinking water facility
4465 Govt. Secondary Schools in SC SFD 97.93 97.63
7352 Govt. Secondary Schools in ST SFD
94.37 96.18
(Source: UDISE+ 2018-19 provisional)
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