INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - APRIL 2007
The Month that was ...

STATES WANT SARVA SHIKSHA TO BE CENTRE'S ABHIYAN

Fearing that lack of funding will derail the gains in elementary education, states have opposed the new funding pattern for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). In the 11th Plan, the Centre will bear only 50% of funding for the programme against the 10th Plan funding pattern of 75:25. Education ministers across party lines have unanimously opposed the 50:50 funding pattern. The human resource development minister has assured state education ministers that he will take up the matter with the Planning Commission. The ministry has already circulated a Cabinet note to the effect.

The demand by the states to continue with the 75:25 funding pattern was stated yet again when HRD minister Arjun Singh asked state ministers what action was being taken to meet 'their enhanced share under SSA in the 11th Plan'. State after state made the same point: a 50:50 funding pattern was untenable. Irrespective of their place on the political spectrum, states argued that the Centre needed to shoulder a higher burden. Rajasthan education minister Ghanshyam Tiwari said the 75:25 funding pattern was the only way forward while his colleague in West Bengal Partha De echoed the need for the Centre to take on the larger share.

For the north-eastern states, that have been demanding a special dispensation of 90:10, the 11th Plan funding pattern could be the end of SSA. Tripura education minister Keshab Majumder said, "The total revenue of our state is Rs 400 crore. We have set aside Rs 13.40 crore for SSA but, given the 50:50 funding pattern, it means only Rs 26.80 crore will be available for the programme. That will adversely affect whatever gains we have made."

Since the 10th Plan mid-term appraisal, states have been demanding that funding for SSA be continued on the existing pattern of 75:25, where states contribute 25% of the funds. States had cited their inability to contribute a higher percentage of funds even at the meeting of the National Development Council (NDC). The Planning Commission has since changed its mind about continuing with the 75:25 funding pattern.

Additionally, the north-eastern states and Jammu & Kashmir have asked that given their revenues, they would prefer a 90:10 funding. In the 10th Plan, north-eastern states contributed 10% of SSA funds, the Centre 75% and the remaining 15% was met by the ministry of development of north-eastern region. The ministry has argued that the 50:50 funding pattern would affect the flow of money to the programme, making it difficult for the programme to capitalise on its gains.

At the Education Ministers' Conference, the states argued that they were unable to meet the enhanced share to keep up the momentum of the programme. Given that in the 11th Plan period, the thrust is on upper primary schooling and improving the quality of learning in the entire elementary cycle, reducing the Centre's fiscal responsibility in the programme could derail the gains made by the SSA.