(a) whether the Government has any proposal to scrap the school development fee being
introduced recently in Navodaya Vidyalayas of the country, in near future;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the details of the proposal to open new Navodaya Vidyalayas specially in eastern Uttar
Pradesh in near future?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a) to (c): No such proposal is under consideration. The students of Jawahar Navodaya
Vidyalayas (JNVs) are being provided good quality modern education free of cost along with free
boarding and lodging since its inception. Only a nominal fee of Rs. 200 per month per student is
charged from the students of classes 9th to 12th in the form of Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi
(VVN) with effect from July 2003. All girl students, students belonging to the SC/ST
communities and boys belonging to the BPL families are exempt from paying this fee. Thus, the
VVN is collected only from a very small percentage of students. VVN fund is being utilised for
following activities in JNVs:
1. For expansion of Computer Education Programme and Information Technology.
2. For conducting Yoga Camps, Adventure Activities, Promotion of Sports etc.
3. For development of Hobby Centres and Junior Science Labs as part of Science Promotion
activities.
4. For organising local excursion trips and cultural activities.
5. For promotion of NCC and Scouts & Guides activities.
6. For Safety, Security and Health care of the children.
7. Quality improvement programmes in academics/Pace Setting Activities.
With a view to providing better facilities to the students of the JNVs as well as for strengthening
the security services, hygiene, sanitation and cleaning services etc., the VVN is being enhanced
by NVS to Rs. 600 per month per student w.e.f. April, 2018. Students belonging to SC/ST
communities, girl students and boys belonging to BPL families continue to be exempted from
paying this fee. From those students whose parents are government employees, VVN would be
charged at the rate of Rs. 1500 per month w.e.f. April 2018.
(d): The Navodaya Vidyalaya scheme provides for opening of one Jawahar Navodaya
Vidyalaya (JNV) in each district of the country. Sanctioning of JNVs depends on the willingness
of the concerned State Government/UT Administration to make available requisite suitable land
free of cost and making available required temporary building, free of rent to run the Vidyalaya
till the permanent building is constructed. However, actual sanction and opening of new JNV
depends on availability of funds and approval by the competent authority. Opening of new JNVs
is a continuous process and one JNV each has already been sanctioned in all the districts of the
country (as on 31st May, 2014), excluding Tamil Nadu which has not yet accepted the Navodaya
Vidyalaya Scheme.