Question : Central Funding for Educational Activities under SSA

(a) whether it is a fact that State Governments which have undertaken educational activities prior to launching of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in 2001 are ineligible for central fund and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it is also a fact that the States including Gujarat, which conducted primary education properly and made heavy investment therein prior to the coming into force of the SSA, suffer heavily vis-a-vis those States which created most of the infrastructure after the launch of SSA and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has received any representations from the State of Gujarat for providing funds in an equitable manner under SSA and also to provide Central assistance to over one lakh primary school teachers appointed prior to coming into force of SSA; and

(d) if so, the Government''s response thereto?

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

(a)&(b): No, Madam. Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a centrally sponsored scheme, State Governments/UTs are provided financial assistance as per the guidelines and norms of SSA. As per the SSA framework of implementation, the States/UTs are not entitled for financial support for activities that have already been implemented by them. The SSA framework for financial norms stipulates that
States would need to maintain their level of investment in elementary education
as in 1999-2000. The Annual Work Plan and Budget of the respective State government/UT under SSA is approved after detailed appraisal and deliberation in the Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting. This gives full opportunity to all States to place their requirement before the Central Government for seeking assistance under the SSA. The outlay of SSA, Gujarat has increased from Rs. 137400.94 lakh in 2013-14 to Rs. 197359.78 lakh in 2015-16.

(c)&(d): Representations have been received from the State Government of
Gujarat. Funds under the SSA programme are provided by the Central Government to States/UTs based on approved norms and guidelines of the scheme. The investment undertaken by the State Government prior to the SSA are not covered under the SSA.
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