MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a): The Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) captures data on various
educational indicators including availability and shortage of basic amenities in schools. State/UT-wise
details of shortage of infrastructure facilities in schools at elementary and secondary level are at
Annexure-I (a) & (b).
About 13.58 crore children in 11.08 lakh government schools have access to gender segregated
toilets.
Under Mid Day Meal Scheme, the Ministry has issued various instructions to States/UTs to maintain
quality of meals served to the children. Updated guidelines on quality, safety and hygiene for school level
kitchens have also been put up on the official website of MDMS (www.mdm.nic.in) for wide circulation.
These guidelines, inter alia, provide for procurement of Agmark quality and branded items for preparation of
meals, tasting of meals by 2-3 adults members including at least one teacher before serving to children and
to put in place a system of testing of food samples by accredited laboratories. Further, the MDM Rules,
2015, notified on 30th September 2015, provide for mandatory testing of food samples on a monthly basis by
government recognized laboratories with a view of ensure that the meals meet with nutritional standards and
quality. The Food and Drug Administration Department of the State may collect samples from randomly
selected schools to ensure adherence to quality.
The recruitment and service conditions, including monitoring of teachers’ attendance in Government
schools are primarily in the domain of respective State Government/UT Administration.
Ministry of Human Resource Development has commissioned two major research studies for
assessment of attendance rate of students and teachers. In the first study conducted in 2006-07 covering 20
States, 18.3% teachers in primary schools were not in the school on a typical working day. The teacher
absence rate was found to be about 19.2% for upper primary schools. The second study was conducted by
Development & Research Services (DRS) in 2012-13 covering 27 States. State-wise details of comparative
findings of average attendance rate of teachers based on headcount during the study in 2006-07 and 2012-13
is at Annexure-II.
Government of India has advised States to monitor students’ and teachers’ attendance in elementary
schools and put in place mechanisms to improve teacher presence and accountability.
(b): The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 mandates the appropriate
Governments to provide school infrastructure for elementary education in accordance with the norms
prescribed in the schedule to the RTE Act. State Governments/UT administrations are mandated to provide
these facilities in all schools as per the time frame mandated under the RTE Act. Further, the Hon’ble
Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 631 of 2004 in the matter of Environmental and Consumer
Protection Foundation vs. Delhi Administration and Others, had directed, in its order dated 3.10.2012 that all
States and Union Territories provide, inter alia, drinking water and toilet facilities, if not already provided.
The Central Government supports State Governments and UT Administrations for creation and
augmentation of infrastructural facilities in government elementary and secondary schools under Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) programmes. The
requirement of infrastructural facilities in schools are worked out every year by the respective State and
Union Territory on incremental basis depending on their need and priority and this is reflected in their
Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B). Regular meetings are held with representatives of States and UTs
to monitor performance of infrastructure created and status of education in schools.
Since the inception of SSA in 2001 till 30.6.2016, 3.64 lakh new elementary schools, construction of
3.12 lakh school buildings, and 18.72 lakh additional classrooms, 2.41 lakh drinking water facilities, 10.34
lakh school toilets and 19.48 lakh teacher posts have been sanctioned to States and UTs. Out of which 3.59
lakh new elementary schools have been opened, construction of 2.90 lakh school buildings and 17.48 lakh
additional classrooms have been completed, 2.30 lakh drinking water facilities have been provided and 9.61
lakh school toilets constructed, and 15.74 lakh teachers have been recruited.
Since the inception of RMSA in 2009-10 till 31.3.2016, 11,599 new secondary schools, 52,715
additional classrooms, 25,948 science laboratories, 21,864 computer rooms, 27,428 libraries, 19,800 toilet
blocks and 12,327 drinking water facilities have been sanctioned to States and UTs. Out of these 10,107 new
schools have been opened, construction of 23,488 additional classrooms, 11,753 science laboratories, 8585
computer rooms and 12,440 libraries have been completed and 19,800 toilet blocks and 7,699 drinking water
facilities have been provided.
States and UTs have been instructed to ensure that all the schools in respective State/UT, including
those under the non-Government sector (private, aided schools etc.) should have provision for separate
toilets for boys and girls; and safe and adequate drinking water facilities to all children, in accordance with
the norms under Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Further, the
Ministry of Human Resource Development in association with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry
of Drinking Water & Sanitation has taken up the matter with State Governments to involve Panchayats in
regular cleaning of the school toilets and for the disposal of solid and liquid waste generated in schools. The
Ministry of Panchayati Raj has advised the Panchayati Raj Departments of all States to include the provision
for construction of toilets, filling up of gaps in provision of toilets, rehabilitation of existing toilets and
drinking water system in schools and regular repair of toilets and drinking water systems in schools, in the
Gram Panchayat Development Plans.
(c) & (d): Details of funds released to States and UTs including Karnataka under SSA and RMSA
programmes for approved activities including facilities in schools during the last two years are at
Annexure-III.
It is also stated that total 3740 in primary school, 16 upper primary school, 57970 additional
classrooms, 22861 drinking water, 27520 boys toilets, 24818 separate girls toilets and 5529 CWSN toilets
have been sanctioned in Karnataka under SSA. Out of which construction work of 3738 primary schools, 11
upper primary schools, 56654 additional classrooms, 22861 drinking water, 24619 boys toilets, 22831
separate girls toilets and 2804 CWSN toilets have been completed as on 30.6.2016.
(e): Under Swachh Vidyalaya Initiative, 4,17,796 toilets were constructed in 2,61,400 elementary and
secondary government schools in a period of one year from 15.8.2014 to 15.8.2015, thus ensuring that every
government school has separate functional toilets for girls and boys. State/UT-wise number of school toilets
constructed under the initiative is at Annexure-IV.
(f): The Expenditure of Government under SSA during 2015-16 is Rs. 21666.52 crore.
(g): The Ratio of toilets per student has been prescribed by the Ministry of Rural Development
Department of Drinking Water Supply. According to which “one urinal space may be provided for every
20 to 40 boys/girls separately and one toilet seat may be provided for every 80 to 120 boys/girls separately
one toilet unit should consist of one lavatory and three to four urinals.
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