Allocation for education goes up by over 25%

With the government deciding to implement the Right To Education Act from April this year, the allocation for education sector witnessed an over 25 per cent increase in the Budget with the major chunk of the funds going to elementary education.

The total allocation for education increased from Rs 36,400 crore in 2009-10 to Rs 45,711 crore in 2010-11.

In the backdrop of the decision to implement the Right To Education Act from April, the allocation for elementary education, which was Rs 26,800 crore last year, has been increased to Rs 34,711 crore in this year. This money includes Rs 3,675 crore earmarked under the Thirteenth Finance Commission grants for 2010-11.

 

The allocation for higher education has gone up from Rs 9,600 crore last year to Rs 11,000 crore this year.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the UPA government was committed to inclusive development and it has been followed-up with the enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.  This Act provides for a framework for legal entitlements for all children in the age group of six to 14 years to education of good quality, based on principles of equity and non-discrimination, he said.

As the government has started reforms in higher education by setting up of an overarching authority and accreditation agency, the Budget made an allocation of Rs 40 crore for the purpose.

About 98 per cent of habitations are now covered by primary schools, Mukherjee said. The allocation under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan has been increased by over 30 per cent this year.

The increase in allocation in elementary education assumes significance in view of the government's decision to implement the Right To Education Act from April 1.

The government has already notified the Act in the official gazette. As per the government's estimate, there will be a requirement of Rs 1.71 lakh crore in the next five years for implementing the Act.

The allocation for higher education has increased by Rs 1,400 crore this year from Rs 9,600 crore last year. The allocation include Rs 5,652 crore in general higher education and Rs 4,266 crore for technical education.

The government last year started an educational loan interest subsidy scheme under which students would get subsidy from the government on interest on loans borrowed by them from banks for studies.

This year's Budget made an allocation of Rs 500 crore for this scheme.