Question : FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION

(a) whether some State Government including Gujarat have urged the Union Government for declaring provision of free and compulsory education under RTE Act, 2009 as a national project;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(c) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Union Government in this regard; and

(d) the manner in which the Government proposes to share financial burden of the State Governments arising out of the provisions of the RTE Act since these are not included under SSA funding?

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

(a)&(b):The Government of Gujarat had stated that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 should be implemented as a National Project by the Union Government, and the States should not be expected to pay more than 10% of the likely expenditure on its implementation.

(c)&(d):The Central Government has been in constant consultations with the State Governments and other stakeholders for the implementation of the RTE Act. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is the main vehicle for implementation of the RTE Act. The norms under SSA have been modified to correspond with the provisions of the RTE Act. The Central Government has increased the outlay for SSA from Rs. 19,838.23 crore in 2010-11, to Rs. 21,000 crore in 2011-12 and to Rs. 23,645 crore in 2012-13. The 13th Finance Commission has also awarded additional earmarked funds to States for elementary education. The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and State has also been revised favourably to a 65:35 ratio (90:10 for the North Eastern States, including Sikkim).