The Centre has sanctioned projects worth Rs 403 crore in Kerala under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for universal education, Education Minster P K Abdu Rabb said here on Thursday.
‘’Around 65 per cent of the Rs 403 crore will be provided by the Centre and the rest would be the share of the state,’’ Abdu Rabb told reporters, adding that as much as eighty-five per cent of SSA funds were utilised for various projects in the previous financial year.
‘’During the last fiscal, the total allocation for the state was Rs 523 crore. However, we received only Rs 483.67 crore, out of which Rs 429.70 crore was utilised,’’ he said, adding that states across the country have been given less money this fiscal when compared to last year under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
The government has earmarked Rs 50.44 crore for distributing free textbooks to all students from Classes II to VIII in both government and aided schools, he said.
At present, all girl students in government schools and boys in SC/ST and BPL category are provided with two sets of uniforms free of cost under the SSA scheme.
This will be extended to students in aided schools also, he said, adding that Rs 80 crore has been earmarked for the purpose.
While Rs 73.60 crore will be spent on major repair works in 826 schools in the state, Rs 14.74 crore will be spent for renovating 10 primary and 22 upper primary schools which are in dilapidated condition.
Ramps and rails for physically challenged students will be installed in schools at a cost of Rs 30 lakh.
The government has also earmarked funds for constructing toilets and setting up drinking water facilities in schools.
Committee Set Up
The government has appointed a committee, headed by the Director of Public Instructions, to fix the guidelines and identify a suitable firm for supplying the uniform material.
Asked about the colour of the uniform, Abdu Rabb said: ‘’It won’t be green,’’ evoking peals of laughter from mediapersons.
The minister was referring to the controversy last year surrounding an alleged diktat by the Education Department directing women teachers attending an SSA function to wear green blouses. ‘’The final decision on the colour and the material will be taken by the committee,’’ he said, adding that the panel will also decide if a same pattern should be followed across the state or whether it should be district-specific.