(a) the norms adopted for identifying educationally backward districts in the country;
(b) the details of such districts in each State at present;
(c) the schemes being implemented to improve the standard of education in these districts;and
(d) the success achieved under these schemes during each of the last three years?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. D. PURANDESWARI)
(a) and (b): According to University Grants Commission, based on Census 2001, 374 Districts have
been identified in the country, having gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) lower than the national average
of 12.4 percent. A State-wise list of the 374 identified higher educationally backward districts
is at Annexure.
(c) and (d): The Government has introduced a new scheme to provide central assistance for setting
up of a model degree college in each of the identified 374 educationally backward districts where
Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for higher education is less than the national GER. Under the Scheme,
the Central Government shall provide assistance to the extent of one third of the capital cost for
establishment of each college, limited to Rs.2.67 crore. For special category states (i.e, all North
-Eastern States Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Assam, Sikkim, Jammu
& Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) the Central share shall be 50% of the capital cost limited
to Rs.4 crore for each college. Those colleges which have been established on or after 1st January, 2008
in identified districts shall also be eligible to be covered under this Scheme, subject to their
satisfying the guidelines of University Grants Commission (UGC) in respect of model colleges.
The State Governments/UT Administrations either directly or through State Universities are expected
to take advantage of the scheme for establishment of new model degree colleges in the identified
districts. According to UGC, 72 proposals have been received from various States out of which 14
have been approved and 26 proposals are at various stages of scrutiny. 32 proposals have not been
found to be fit by UGC for consideration as they were not conforming to the guidelines.