States demand more funds for right to education
By IANSSunday, June 13, 2010
NEW DELHI - Most states are demanding more funds for implementation of the landmark Right to Education Act in meetings with Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal, an official said.
“The states want more funds. They are pressing the central government to give larger chunk of the expenses,” Anshu Vaish, secretary, School Education, HRD ministry, told IANS.
The Right to Education Act, that came into force April 1 this year, makes states responsible for providing compulsory education to all children below 14 years of age.
Sibal is holding meetings with state education ministers to ensure that the states prepare the needed infrastructure for implementation of the Act.
“Many states have been covered. He (Sibal) will now meet the education ministers from the northeastern states, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh,” Vaish said.
Sibal has so far met education ministers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Assam.
These states have demanded more funds from the central government for the implementation of the Act.
The HRD ministry is stressing on a 55:45 ratio for share of expenses between the central and state governments. But the states are seeking a larger chunk of the share from New Delhi.
“We are suggesting 55:45 ratio for central government and state,” Vaish said.
The 13th Finance Commission has provided for Rs.25,000 crore to the states over five years for implementation of the Right to Education Act.
This is over and above allocations for centrally-sponsored schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, teacher education scheme and mid-day meal scheme, which is the largest of its kind in the world. For 2010-11, the allocation for such schemes is Rs.15,000 crore.
