(a) whether the Government has identified 374 Educationally Backward Districts in
the country;
(b) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government to enhance the level of
education in Educationally Backward Districts;
(c) whether the Government has reviewed the progress made through the said
initiative; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI. RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a) to (d): Yes Sir. An Expert Committee constituted by the University Grants
Commission (UGC) had identified 374 Educationally Backward Districts (EBDs)
where Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education was less than the national
average of 12.4% based on 2001 census data.
Education being in the Concurrent List, creation of new institutions is the
responsibility of both Central and State Government. However, recognising the need
for central assistance, the Central Government has implemented various schemes
supporting State Governments. In 2010, a Scheme for providing financial assistance
to New Model Degree Colleges in Educationally Backward Districts was launched to
increase access to higher education in EBDs. The scheme was later subsumed
under the subsequently launched Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya
Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) which is aimed at inter-alia correcting regional
imbalances in access to higher education, especially in unserved and underserved
areas by setting up quality higher educational institutions and upgrading existing
ones. Apart from setting up Model Degree Colleges, RUSA has also supported the
Educationally Backward Districts under various other components of the scheme
such as Infrastructure Grants to Colleges and Universities, Equity Initiatives,
Enhancing Excellence and Quality in select Universities etc.
As on date, the Project Approval Board (PAB) of RUSA has approved an
amount of Rs. 5614.256 crores, under various components of RUSA for the 374
EBDs in the country.
To review the progress of the scheme in States/UTs, review meetings with the
State Government/UT officials and beneficiary institutions are being undertaken
regularly.
****