UPA released more SSA funds to Gujarat than NDA: Congress

The Gujarat Congress today claimed that the present UPA government has allotted higher funds to the state under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme over those allotted by the erstwhile BJP-led NDA government during 2001-02.

"When the BJP-led government was in power at the Centre, it had allotted merely Rs 17.66 crore to Gujarat under the SSA scheme, while the present UPA government has increased this amount manifold to Rs 440.65 crore this year," said Shaktisinh Gohil, leader of opposition in the state assembly.

He alleged that the state government had failed to made judicious use of funds towards the benefit of the education system. "The state government has been wasting the funds allotted by the Central government under various schemes by squandering for the publicity in the name of 'Shaala Praveshotsav'," alleged Gohil.

He added that the state government was not implementing the right to education (RTE) act, rather it had colluded with the private schools. According to Gohil, schools in Gujarat did not adopt transparent admission process and did not fulfill the recommendations made in the RTE act to make provision for 25 per cent seats for free education to economically poor students including SC, ST and OBC category.