Question : PROVISIONS OF RTE ACT

(a) whether there is a provision for providing uniforms, books and mid-day meal to the children studying in the Government schools free of cost and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether these facilities are also being provided to the children belonging to the deprived sections and weaker sections who are studying in the private schools under any Act;

(c) if not, whether the Government is likely to take any decision in this regard as the said children are eligible for the said facilities;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the State Governments are required to reimburse the fee of those students belonging to the economically weaker sections and other specified classes who are admitted to private unaided schools as mandated by the RTE Act and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) to (d): The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) supports State/UT Governments for providing free textbooks to girls, SC, ST and BPL children in government and government-aided schools and free uniforms for all girls and children belonging to SC/ST & BPL families, in States/UTs where such a scheme was not being run by the State/UT before the SSA was introduced. There is no proposal to extend these provisions to private unaided schools under the SSA. The mid day meal is provided to all children studying in Government, Government aided, local body schools, the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) centres and special training centres including madarasas/maqtabs, supported under the SSA.

(e): The State/UT Governments reimburse the private unaided schools admitting 25% children from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups under Section 12(1) (c) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, as per norms notified by the concerned State/UT Government. So far, 10 States/UTs have notified their norms.