Letter to PM for National Project statusBhopal:Wednesday, September 9, 2009:Updated 12:56IST Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has appealed the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for the status of National Project and adequate funds to states to achieve the gigantic task of providing free and compulsory education under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill 2009.
The Chief Minister Shri Chouhan in a letter today to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that the bill has been passed by the Parliament and is likely to receive the Presidential assent soon. Shri Chouhan has said this initiative derives inspiration from the directive principles enumerated in the Constitution and will strengthen the social fabric of our democracy.
Shri Chouhan has further said in the letter that Both the State Government and the local authorities were expected to discharge the duties assigned to them under this enactment. The efficacious implementation of the Right granted would entail both capital and recurring expenditure.
This would require more school buildings, teachers and funds for the tuition fee as well. The letter further says that the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development was understood to be currently engaged in the task of assessing the fund requirement.
However, a quick estimate by the State Education Department indicates that in Madhya Pradesh the additional expenditure would be around Rs. 9000 Crores over the next three years. Although, the Act provides for grants-in-aid of revenues for fulfilling the objectives laid therein, percentages will be determined by the Central Government in consultation with the States, he added.
The letter to the Prime Minister further says that most of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes start with low state share. However, over a period of time, there is progressive increase and the States end up paying up to 50%.
This happened in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the process has begun in NRHM too. In this context, Shri Chouhan has stressed in the letter that the gigantic task of providing free and compulsory education should be taken up as a National Project in the right earnest. The State should not be burdened to pay more than 10% of the expenditure likely to be incurred in implementing the Act - at least over the next two plan periods.
Any attempt to determine the share beyond this limit will adversely affect the financial autonomy of the state and our capacity to support this noble cause of providing free and compulsory elementary education, Shri Chouhan has added.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan has assured the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh that the State Government would take all necessary actions for achieving the objectives of this legislation.
The Chief Minister Shri Chouhan in a letter today to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that the bill has been passed by the Parliament and is likely to receive the Presidential assent soon. Shri Chouhan has said this initiative derives inspiration from the directive principles enumerated in the Constitution and will strengthen the social fabric of our democracy.
Shri Chouhan has further said in the letter that Both the State Government and the local authorities were expected to discharge the duties assigned to them under this enactment. The efficacious implementation of the Right granted would entail both capital and recurring expenditure.
This would require more school buildings, teachers and funds for the tuition fee as well. The letter further says that the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development was understood to be currently engaged in the task of assessing the fund requirement.
However, a quick estimate by the State Education Department indicates that in Madhya Pradesh the additional expenditure would be around Rs. 9000 Crores over the next three years. Although, the Act provides for grants-in-aid of revenues for fulfilling the objectives laid therein, percentages will be determined by the Central Government in consultation with the States, he added.
The letter to the Prime Minister further says that most of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes start with low state share. However, over a period of time, there is progressive increase and the States end up paying up to 50%.
This happened in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the process has begun in NRHM too. In this context, Shri Chouhan has stressed in the letter that the gigantic task of providing free and compulsory education should be taken up as a National Project in the right earnest. The State should not be burdened to pay more than 10% of the expenditure likely to be incurred in implementing the Act - at least over the next two plan periods.
Any attempt to determine the share beyond this limit will adversely affect the financial autonomy of the state and our capacity to support this noble cause of providing free and compulsory elementary education, Shri Chouhan has added.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan has assured the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh that the State Government would take all necessary actions for achieving the objectives of this legislation.
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