Gujarat demands higher funds under SSA

At a state education ministers' conference held in New Delhi on Wednesday, Ramanlal Vora, minister for education, Government of Gujarat informed that the state received less allocation of funds under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in comparison with the other states.

The minister expressed his dissatisfaction that the fund of Rs 1,860 crore which was approved under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) plan for 2011-12 has not reached the state yet.

"If we see the per capita allocation to states under SSA grant, Gujarat is receiving only Rs 170 crore compared to other states like Andhra Pradesh Rs 227 crore, Bihar Rs 648 crore, Rajasthan Rs 508 crore, Orissa Rs 463 crore, West Bengal Rs 461 crore and Tamil Nadu Rs 194 crore. This inequality meted out to Gujarat should be stopped immediately, because Gujarat also needs higher allocation for Human Development Index," said Vora.

 

Demanding higher share of funds from the Central Government, Vora maintained that if the right to education was to be extended to secondary education, the Central Government should contribute lion’s share of funding under the programme.