(a) whether the Government has taken any effective steps to provide basic facilities in the schools
of the country especially in the schools situated in the backward and rural areas which do not
have proper buildings/teachers and whose buildings are in dilapidated condition;
(b) if so, the details thereof as on date; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a) to (c) The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 stipulates
norms and standards for a recognized school imparting elementary education. The RTE norms
provide for an all-weather school building consisting of, inter alia, at least one classroom for everyteacher and an office-cum-store-cum-Head teacher’s room, barrier free access, separate toilets forboys and girls, safe and adequate drinking water facility to all children and playground. Sections 8and 9 of the RTE Act, 2009 lays down the duties of appropriate Government and local authority to
inter alia provide infrastructure including school building, teaching staff and learning equipment.
The Department of School Education and Literacy has launched an Integrated Scheme for
School Education – Samagra Shiksha w.e.f. 2018-19, which subsumes the three erstwhile Centrally
Sponsored Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan
(RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE). The new integrated scheme envisages school education as a
continuum from pre-school to senior secondary level and aims to ensure inclusive and equitable
quality education.
Under Samagra Shiksha, States and UTs are supported for strengthening of existing
government schools, and for creation and augmentation of infrastructure facilities based on the gaps
determined from Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) database and proposals
received from respective State/UT. The scheme also envisages an annual recurring composite school
grant varying upto Rs. 1,00,000/- per annum depending upon the number of students, for all
government schools. Each school is required to spend at least 10% of the composite school grant on
activities related to Swachhata Action Plan. The scheme also provides for annual maintenance and
repair of existing school building, toilets and other facilities to upkeep the infrastructure in good
condition.
Under erstwhile SSA till 2017-18 and Samagra Shiksha effective from 2018-19, construction
of 3.13 lakh school buildings, 18.89 lakh additional classrooms, provision of 2.41 lakh drinking waterfacility, construction of 3.99 lakh Boys’ toilets, 5.22 lakh separate girls’ toilets and 1.41 lakh CWSNtoilets have been sanctioned to States and UTs, out of which States and UTs have reported
construction of 2.97 lakh school buildings, 18.17 lakh additional classrooms, provision of 2.34 lakh
drinking water facility, construction of 3.83 lakh Boys’ toilets, 5.14 lakh separate girls’ toilets and1.25 lakh CWSN toilets, till 31.03.2019.
Under erstwhile RMSA till 2017-18 and Samagra Shiksha effective from 2018-19, 12,739 new
secondary schools, 53,789 additional classrooms, 66,286 toilets and 11,933 drinking water facilities
have been sanctioned, out of which States and UTs have reported construction of 8663 new schools,
37,546 additional classrooms, 46,280 toilets and provision of drinking water facility in 10,093
schools, till 31.03.2019.
The matters regarding the salary and allowances payable to, and the terms and conditions of
service of teachers including their deployment are governed and regulated by respective State/UT
Government. The Central Government has issued advisories to States and UTs for redeployment of
teachers and to ensure that all school teachers should spend adequate time serving in rural areas
through a transparent policy.
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