Question : Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Funds

(a) whether the Government proposes to release funds for adjustment of advance
under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan;
(b) if so, the time by when funds are likely to be released; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) to (c): The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is
under implementation since 2000-2001 for universalizing elementary education
through coordinated and collaborative efforts with the States and UTs. Now, SSA
along-with other two centrally sponsored schemes of Rashtriya Madhyamik
Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE) have been subsumed under
a new Integrated Scheme for School Education-Samagra Shiksha, which has been
launched from 2018-19. It is an overarching programme for the school education
sector extending from pre-school to class XII and aims to ensure inclusive and
equitable quality education at all levels of school education.
Under the schemes, all States and UTs submit their proposals through their
Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B). Based on their proposal, the Project Approval
Board (PAB) in the Ministry of Human Resource Development approves an estimate
as per the programmatic and financial norms of the scheme.
The SSA was designated as the vehicle for implementing the Right of Children
to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, now these provisions are
implemented through Samagra Shiksha from 2018-19. Section 7(1) of the RTE Act,
2009, states that both the Centre and the State shall have concurrent responsibility for
providing funds for carrying out the provisions of the Act. Section 7(2) states that
estimate for implementing the Act shall be prepared by Central Government. Further,
Section 7(3) states that the Central Government shall provide to the State
Government, as grants-in-aid of revenues, such percentage of expenditure as it may
determine, while, Section 7(5) states that the State Government shall, taking into
consideration the sums provided by the Central Government to a State Government,
be responsible to provide funds for the implementation of the provisions of the Act.
The Ministry of Finance, Government of India allocate/earmark the Budget
Estimate/Revised Estimate (BE/RE) provision at the beginning of the financial year for
the SSA/Samagra Shiksha. The funds provided at BE/RE stage are released as
central share to State and UTs, for the implementation of the interventions as
approved by the Project Approval Board (PAB), as per the prevalent fund sharing
pattern.
The Central share is released in different installments viz. ad-hoc installment,
balance of 1st installment and the 2ndinstallment. The approved amount of fund was
earlier released by Central/State Government directly to State Implementing Society
(SIS) created by the State Government for implementation of different activities
mandated in SSA Framework. However from 2014-15, central share has been
released to the State/UTs and after receipt of central share, State/UTs further release
the funds to SISs along-with the proportionate state share. The Central Government
releases funds to State/UTs in lump-sum and intervention-wise releases are not
made. After closure of the previous financial year, the amount of fund left-over
becomes the unspent balance of the previous year and this amount of unspent
balance is taken into account (as per the funding pattern), while releasing the central
share for implementing the approved interventions during the subsequent next
financial year.
With the acceptance of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission
by the Government of India, the devolution of funds to the States has been increased
from 32% to 42% of the net Union Tax Receipts. With the enhanced devolution of
funds, States have been advised to allocate more funds to SSA so as to carry out the
functions and responsibilities conferred upon the States by Section 7(5) of the Right of
Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
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