The Government of India has approved a sum of Rs699.74 cr for the annual work plan for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) of the State for the financial year 2016-17. This decision was taken in a meeting of Project Approval Board (PAB) at department of school education and literacy in Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) on Thursday in New Delhi.
The meeting was chaired by union secretary Dr S C Khuntia. In the meeting the proposals put forward by the Secretary School education, D Senthil Pandian and the activities of SSA in Uttarakhand were discussed in detail. After discussions the PAB cleared Rs 699.74 crores for SSA and Rs 91 Crores for the provisions under Right to Education (RTE).
In the project the MHRD has earmarked a sum of Rs 69 Crores for construction of 140 extra class rooms in Primary and Upper Primary schools of the state where buildings are in a dilapidated condition. Incidentally the PAB has allotted maximum amount for project to improve quality of education. It includes free textbooks, school uniform, Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE), teaching aid development and computer education. It is worth mentioning that with a slogan 'Padhe Bharat, Bhadhe Bharat' the union government is emphasizing on improving the quality of education in the schools.
The approval for distribution of mathematics and science kits in 1900 junior schools was also given by the MHRD. Similarly an approval for establishing two residential schools for destitute children and those belonging to deprived sections of society was given. A policy decision for compensation for the students enrolled under RTE act in the private schools was also taken in the meeting. A special project for children with special needs was also approved in the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by Additional Secretary School Education Ranjna, Director SCERT Kusum Pant and Additional Project Director SSA Mukul Kumar Sati.