Revision in some financial norms of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

No: ----- Dated: Feb, 06 2014

Revision in some financial norms of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the following revision in some financial norms of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Programme. The revisions are:

(i) Revision in the recurring costs of the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) component of the SSA programme which had not been revised since 2004.

(ii) The discontinuation of the National Programme for Education for Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL) component of the SSA programme as the interventions of the programme have been incorporated in the mainstream SSA components.

(iii) Provision for reimbursement of expenditure towards 25 percent admissions to private unaided schools under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. This is on the basis of per child cost norms notified by the State and Union Territory (UT) Governments for Classes I to VIII, subject to a maximum ceiling of 20 percent of the total annual work plan and budget for a State/UT.

The revision of these norms would provide girls studying in KGBVS with good quality education along with nutritious food. Students from disadvantaged and economically weaker sections of society would be able to pursue elementary education in private schools and promote an equitable society.

Background:

SSA is a major flagship programme of the Government of India to universalize elementary education in the country, and the main vehicle for the implementation of the RTE Act.