Question : IMPLEMENTATION OF RTE ACT

(a) whether any improvement has been noticed in the infrastructure and enrolment in the schools located in the rural and urban areas after implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the benefits that have accrued to the students belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society ever since the implementation of this Act;

(c) whether the Government has received representation to extend the deadline to implement the RTE Act; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI M. M. PALLAM RAJU)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 98 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2013 ASKED BY SHRI SAJJAN VERMA REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF RTE ACT

(a) Since the enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the enrolment of children at the elementary level has increased from 18.77 crore in 2008-09 to 19.97 crore in 2012-13 as per District Information System for Education (DISE) data. A total of 43,668 schools, 7, 00,460 additional classrooms, 5,46,513 toilets and 34,671 drinking water facilities have been sanctioned to States/ UTs under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme to meet the objectives of the RTE Act.

(b) The enrolment of SC, ST and Muslim children has increased from 3.71 crore, 2.07 crore & 1.97 crore respectively in 2008-09 to 4.04 crore, 2.17 crore & 2.70 crore in 2012-13. 13 States have also admitted children belonging to disadvantaged groups/weaker section under Section 12(1) (c) of the RTE Act in private unaided schools.

(c)& (d) Three States requested for the extension of RTE Act, 2009 dead line beyond 31.03.2013. The issue was discussed in a Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) meeting on 8th November, 2012 and there was a consensus not to extend the RTE deadline. The Ministry heeded the spirit of the CABE and exhorted all States/UTs to redouble their efforts to achieve the RTE norms and standards. In order to support the States/UTs, in their endeavour, Rs. 80254.74 Crore from 2010-11 till date has been released to the States/UTs under SSA since the enactment of the RTE Act, 2009.