(a) whether the various State Governments have sought
financial assistance particularly by Maharashtra for
providing free text books to the students under the
scheme `Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan`;
(b) if so, the details and the present status thereof,
State-wise; and
(c) the time by which the requisite assistance is
likely to be provided to the State Governments?
THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI ARJUN SINGH)
(a) to (c): The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme has
provision for distribution of free text books to all girls
and SC/ST children in classes I-VIII if there is no existing
State Government scheme for the same purpose. Funds have
been sanctioned to all State/UT SSA programmes who were
eligible, including Maharashtra, for the year 2004-05.