Question : NAVODAYA VIDYALAYAS

(a) whether the Union Government has opened Navodaya Vidyalayas in districts where concentration of Muslim population is more;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Union Government has requested the State Governments to endorse the Navodaya Vidyalaya scheme at the earliest to enable rural students have access to quality higher education;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether all the States have accepted the scheme; and

(f) if not, the corrective measures taken by the Union Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR.SHASHI THAROOR)

(a) & (b) : The Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme envisages the setting up of a residential school in each district of the country to bring out the best of the rural talent. The opening of these schools is not community specific.

(c) to (f) : All the states except Tamil Nadu have already accepted this scheme and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are functional in 576 districts of the country.