India 2018

Education 157
sponsored scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) supports states and UTs in
their efforts to implement the RTE Act. Its interventions include, inter alia,
opening of new schools, construction of schools and additional classrooms,
constructing toilets and drinking water facilities, provisioning for teachers, inservice
training for teachers and academic resource support, free textbooks and
uniforms, support for improving learning achievement levels, research,
evaluation and monitoring.
Programme Interventions
I. Universal Access: The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Programme is being
implemented since 2001 for universalization of elementary education. It has
made significant progress in achieving near universal access and equity.
(a) New Schools: Progress in achieving the goal of universal access under SSA
has been consistent over the years. Over the years 2,04,740 primary schools
have been sanctioned. Over the years 1,59,415 upper primary schools have been
sanctioned in a radius of 3 km.
(b) Special Training for mainstreaming out-of-school children: The RTE Act makes a
specific provision for Special Training for age-appropriate admission for outof-school
children. A majority of out-of-school children belong to disadvantaged
communities - scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, Muslims, migrants, children
with special needs, urban deprived children, working children, children in other
difficult circumstances, for example, those living in difficult terrain, children
from displaced families, and areas affected by civil strife, etc. Special training
may be in the form of residential or non-residential courses organized, preferably
in the premises of the school, but if such facilities are not available in school,
alternate facilities which are safe, secure and accessible may be identified and
used.
(c) Residential facilities: SSA has a provision for residential facilities in sparsely
populated or hilly and densely forested areas with difficult geographical terrains
and in densely populated urban areas. SSA has provided 826 residential
institutions with a capacity of around 90,855 children.
(d) Transportation or Escort facilities: These facilities are available for children in
remote habitations with sparse populations or in urban areas where availability
of land is a problem or children belonging to extremely deprived groups or
children with special needs.
(e) Uniforms: SSA provides two sets of uniform to all girls, SC, ST children and
Below Poverty Line (BPL) children, wherever (i) state governments have
incorporated provision of school uniforms as a child entitlement in their State
RTE Rules, and (ii) state governments are not already providing uniforms from
the state budgets.
II. Bridging Gender Gaps in Elementary Education
a. Girls Education: RTE-SSA provides a clear thrust and special focus on education
for girls and children belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections.