Madam Speaker,
I thank you for giving me an opportunity to initiate this small piece of
legislation so as to amend the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
Education Act, 2009. I think, it is a small amendment but it has a significant
impact on education sector. Actually, this Bill is a historic Bill in the area
of education. In 2009, the UPA government had introduced this Bill in this
House. It has created a historic intervention in the area of primary education.
We know that in the area of our primary education, a lot of discrepancy is
happening. Actually, children coming from rich families are getting better
quality education. Children who are coming from poor family background are
getting not much quality education. Actually, this Bill is a poor student
friendly Bill. I am very much aware of140
the fact that some of the State Governments are not doing much to implement the
Right of Children to Free160
and Compulsory Education Act in a smooth way. If they implement it in a good
manner, definitely discrepancy among the rich and the poor would be decreased.
Such provisions are there in this Bill.
This amendment
is very clear about detention of the students. If children in the lower level
fail in an examination, as per our present Bill, there is no detention. But the
honourable Minister, through this Bill, is suggesting that if a student has
failed in an examination, then there is a re-examination. If, in that
re-examination also, he fails, then the State Government or the Centre has to
decide. But, at that stage also, there is a need of clarity because people are
debating on these things.280
I think the honourable Minister has already mentioned about the survey reports
and everything. I do agree with the survey reports. But, there is difference of
opinion in other ways. Therefore, failing in a class will cause fallout. That320 was the thinking earlier
also. When a student is failing in an examination, there should be a severe
fallout especially in rural areas. That is why, the Bill has been made in such
a way. But, there is a lack of clarity nowadays also. Who will conduct the
examination? I would like to know whether the State or the Centre will conduct
the examination. That is not clear in this Bill. It should be clarified whether
re-examination is conducted by the State or by the Centre.
Some of the
State Governments are not at all implementing the Right to Education Act.420 They are pointing out
that it is putting so much financial burden on the State Governments. Earlier,
there was a provision to enhance the allocation to State Government for
education sector. But, unfortunately, this Government has cut the allocation of
entire Centrally-sponsored schemes and programmes including Sarva Shiksha
Abhiyan. It is because Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is a major scheme480 to look after the
primary education sector. The day before yesterday also, I had a review meeting
of SSA in my constituency. What has happened? Earlier, it was being given Rs.
120 crore; now you are giving Rs. 25 crore. There is no infrastructure
development; nothing is there. There are only two or three programmes. The
State Governments’ argument is that without giving much Central assistance,
giving a legislation and asking them to implement that legislation is not at
all possible560 from the
point of view of the State Governments. Therefore, I think the Minister should
clarify how much amount of money he is giving from the Centre to the States for
improving the primary education sector.
I think next
year onwards, you are changing SSA and RMSA and you are introducing a new
scheme. Therefore, there should be a clarity on how much allocation you are
giving. The Government institutions are entirely depending upon the Central
assistance. Nowadays, allocations640
in the education sector is coming down. We need quality education especially in
the Government schools. Madam Speaker, in my own constituency, a lot of poor
people from the fishermen community and a lot of poor people from the agrarian
communities have to depend upon these Government schools and some of the aided
schools. But the quality of education and facilities700 which are being provided in urban areas are totally
different from rural areas. Students from the marginalised communities and
marginalised areas are in a difficult position to get quality education. That
is why this Bill has been introduced in this House. But there has been not much
progress reported because of the lack of funds.
The honourable
Minister should also concentrate on the primary education. What is the
Government doing for the enhancement of primary education? Some Government
schemes are very good, like the one called Atal Tinkering Lab. You have already
provided some funds to the schools including800 private aided schools. But they are also
discriminating between schools. For example, in my district, only eighteen
schools have been selected. I asked those officers what the guidelines are.
They said that whosoever apply first, will get it. We have around840 one thousand schools in
my constituency. We are getting financial assistance from the Central
Government for only eighteen schools. It is not reasonable. I agree that it is
a good programme. You have to enhance the allocation of funds for that
programme and you have to provide financial assistance to a maximum number of
schools. This is what I am asking. In that sense, no Member of Parliament is
being consulted. These are bureaucratic interventions. In a democratic set-up,
how can you do like that? I myself had called the officer concerned and asked
various things about the scheme. There is no proper information.
In the case of
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, we had a review committee under the960 chairmanship of a Member of Parliament. This type of
an educational scheme should also have such facilities. I have already talked980 about the affordable
education. Therefore, the Government should concentrate on these things.
Otherwise, there will be a stress among the people who reside in the rural
areas and also on the people who reside in the poor and economically backward areas. Madam Speaker, this Bill gives a provision to protect the student
community especially the poor students. What should be attitude of the
Government? Unfortunately, I have to say something about the present policies
of the Government. The latest controversy is of giving special status to the
Jio which has not yet been started and registered at all. How can the Government
give status of eminence to the Jio University which is not even existing? The
institutions which are pride of our nation are waiting in the queue. They are
totally ignoring those institutions. You are providing the status1120 of eminence to an
institution which is not even registered. What will be the message to the
nation? I seek clarification from the honourable Minister. In the education
sector, you are moving such a legislation. What will be the message to the
entire nation? The institution which is not yet registered is getting status of
eminence. We do not understand it at all.
Regarding UGC also, the
Government has already decided to dismantle the UGC. You had already dismantled
the Planning Commission and formed NITI Aayog. The Government has already told
us that creating NITI Aayog is for speedy implementation of projects. Madam
Speaker, you are also a very experienced and senior-most parliamentarian. You
know in your constituency what is happening. Everything is going to the NITI
Aayog. The same thing is going to happen in this case also.1260 The UGC is such an important organisation in the
area of higher education. Without having done the homework and without having1280 a proper discussion
with the eminent educationists and the heads of educational institutions, how
can the Government go for this sudden move to dismantle the UGC? What is the
purpose? Therefore, I think it is also a serious area of concern.
To promote
adult education, particularly in the 15-35 age group through voluntary sector,
the MHRD is providing assistance to voluntary agencies in the field of higher
education under two separate schemes. One is assistance to voluntary agencies
in the field of higher education and another is Jan Shikshan Sansthan.
Recently, the Government has decided to merge both the schemes, and renamed the
modified scheme as Scheme for Support to Voluntary Agencies for Adult Education
and Skill Development.1400
There is also a complete fund deficiency in the implementation of the scheme.
Then, in the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, the Member of Parliament is also the Chairman
to oversee the implementation of the Mid-Day Meal scheme. Now, we are in the
modern1440 technological
period. How are the students getting this? Now, the honourable Minister is
telling that education is important and we have to take out the mid-day meal. I
do not think it is like that. In our constituency, some students are coming
from a very poor background. They have to depend upon this Mid-Day Meal scheme.
They are totally depending upon it. In our State, we can proudly say that apart
from the allocation given from the Central Government, they are contributing.
The PTI is contributing. The local Self-Governments are contributing for a
better Mid-Day Meal scheme.1540
But there is not much provision for good kitchens. In the day before
yesterday’s meeting on Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan I asked them about it. They told
us that as per norms they cannot give funds to have kitchen. This is one of the
most important things. If you are giving the mid-day meal, you need a healthy
and clean atmosphere and a good1600
kitchen for preparing the food. At least, a good dining hall is needed.
Therefore, if you provide some money from the SSA, especially for these things
in rural areas, it will be a very good thing. Therefore, I request the honourable
Minister to amend the SSA guidelines in respect of the Mid-Day Meal scheme.1654
