Education 2001.

However, India continues to lag

behind several other developing countries in
10.16 The broad policy framework for the
the region in terms of adult literacy and
development of education and eradication of
youth literacy rates (Table 10.5).
illiteracy is provided in the National Policy
on Education (NPE) 1986, which had set a Elementary Education
goal of expenditure on education at 6 per
cent of the GDP. As against this target, the 10.19 The number of primary schools
combined total expenditure on education by decreased from 6.64 lakh in 2001-02 to 6.51
Central and State Governments was 3.74 lakh in 2002-03, whereas that of upper
per cent of GDP in 2003-04 (BE). The trend primary schools increased from 2.20 lakh to
of total expenditure on education as a 2.45 lakh over the period, indicating
proportion of total government expenditure upgradation of a large number of primary
reveals a disturbing downward trend schools to upper Primary schools. The total
between 2000-01 and 200304 (Table 10.3). enrolment at the primary and upper primary
As reported in Economic Survey, 2003-04, a levels has witnessed a steady increase.
high priority has been accorded to this During 2001-02 and 2002-03, the growth
sector in the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002- rate of enrolment for girls at elementary
07), with an allocation of Rs.43, 825 crore level was higher than that of boys.
as against Rs.24, 908 crore made available Participation of girls at all levels of school
in the Ninth Plan, representing an increase education has improved appreciably over
of 76 per cent. the years, but vast disparities amongst the
States in gross enrolment ratio (GER) at
10.17 The total Central plan allocation of primary/upper primary levels still persist
Rs.7, 025 crore in 2003-04 (BE) has been (Table 10.6).
increased to Rs. 8,225 crore in 2004-05
(BE), with Rs.5750 crore for Elementary 10.20 Of the estimated population of 205
Education, Rs.250 crore for Adult Education million in the age group of 6-14 years on
and Rs.2225 crore for Secondary and March 1, 2002, nearly 82.5 per cent was
Higher Education. Apart from this, an enrolled in schools, compared to 82.4 per
additional allocation of Rs.2, 000 crore is cent in 200102. The retention rate of
earmarked for the Department of students at the primary school stage was
Elementary Education & Literacy and about 59 per cent (1992-97). At the primary
Rs.250 crore for the Department of level, the drop-out rate decreased from 39.0
Secondary & Higher Education for per cent in 2001-02 to 34.9 per cent in
implementing the schemes related to the 2002-03, while at the upper primary level,
NCMP. the drop-out rate decreased from 54.6 per
cent to 52.8 per cent over the same period.
10.18 Literacy rates in India increased from In spite of the decline over the years, drop
18.3 per cent in 1951 to 64.8 per cent in out rate still remains very high, especially in

Table 10.5 : India’s global position on adult and youth literacy rates

Country Adult Literacy Rate Youth Literacy Rate

(percent 15 yrs & above) (per cent 15yrs-24)
1990 2002 1990 2002
China 78.3 90.9 95.3 98.9 India 49.3 61.3 64.3 73.3* Nepal 30.4
44.0 46.6 62.7
Pakistan 35.5 41.5 47.4 53.9 Sri Lanka 88.7 92.1 95.1 97.0 Bangladesh 34.2
41.1 42.0 49.7

* Figure relates to 2001.

Source: UNDP, Human Development Report 2004.
website : http:/indiabudget.nic.in
Social Sectors 231
the case of girl students, for whom the rates schools and 33 lakh existing teachers would
in 2002-03 were 33.7 per cent and 53.5 per be covered under the scheme. As on
cent, at the primary and upper primary January 7, 2005, an amount of Rs. 3,031
levels, respectively. crore has been released out of Rs. 3,057
crore for 2004-05 (BE).
10.21 The number of teachers at the
elementary level rose from 3.4 million in 10.23 In July, 2003, Government of India
200102 to 3.5 million in 2002-03, while the approved a new programme called
share of female teachers increased from ‘National Programme for Education of Girls
37.2 per cent to 40 per cent over the same at Elementary Level’ (NPEGEL) as an
period. Despite the increase in the number amendment to the existing scheme of Sarva
of teachers over the decades, the Pupil Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for providing
Teacher Ratio (PTR) at the primary and additional support for education of
upper primary levels has remained more or underprivileged/
less constant around 42:1 and 34:1
disadvantaged girls at the elementary level.
respectively during 2002-03.
The scheme is implemented in
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs)
where the level of female literacy is below,
10.22 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), and the gender gap is above, the national
launched in November 2000 as an umbrella average, in blocks of districts which are not
programme, continued to be implemented to covered under EBBs but have at least 5 per
support and build upon other primary and cent SC/ST population and where SC/ST
elementary education projects. The female literacy is below 10 per cent, and
programme aims to ensure five years of also in select urban slums.
primary education for all children in the age
10.24 An estimated provision of Rs.1064.80
group 6-14 years by 2007 and eight years of
crore has been kept for the Tenth Plan.
schooling by 2010. The programme is
Apart from NPEGEL, a new scheme called
implemented in partnership with the States.
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)
The programme addresses the needs of
has been approved for launching during
192 million children in 11 lakh habitations.
2004-05 for setting up 750 residential
8.5 lakh existing primary and upper primary

Table 10.6 : Gross Enrolment Ratios ( GER) (in per cent)

Year Primary (I-V) Upper Primary (VI-VIII) Elementary (I-VIII)

Boys
Girls Total Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total
1950-51 60.6 24.8 42.6 20.6 4.6 12.7 46.4 17.7 32.1
1960-61 82.6 41.4 62.4 33.2 11.3 22.5 65.2 30.9 48.7
1970-71 95.5 60.5 78.6 46.5 20.8 33.4 75.5 44.4 61.9
1980-81 95.8 64.1 80.5 54.3 28.6 41.9 82.2 52.1 67.5
1990-91 114.0 85.5 100.1 76.6 47.0 62.1 100.0 70.8 86.0
1991-92 112.8 86.9 100.2 75.1 49.6 61.4 101.2 73.2 87.7
1992-93 95.0 73.5 84.6 72.5 48.9 67.5 87.7 65.7 77.2
1993-94 90.0 73.1 81.9 62.1 45.4 54.2 80.2 63.7 72.3
1994-95 96.6 78.2 87.7 68.9 50.0 60.0 87.2 68.8 78.4
1995-96 97.1 79.4 88.6 67.8 49.8 59.3 86.9 69.4 78.5
1996-97 97.0 80.1 88.8 65.8 49.2 58.0 85.9 69.4 78.0
1997-98 99.3 82.2 91.1 66.3 49.7 58.5 87.4 70.7 79.4
1998-99 * 100.9 82.9 92.1 65.3 49.1 57.6 87.6 70.6 79.4
1999-2000 * 104.1 85.2 94.9 67.2 49.7 58.8 90.1 72.0 81.3
2000-01* 104.9 85.9 95.7 66.7 49.9 58.6 90.3 72.4 81.6
2001-02* 105.3 86.9 96.3 67.8 52.1 60.2 90.7 73.6 82.4
2002-03* 97.5 93.1 95.4 65.3 56.2 60.9 85.4 79.3 82.5
*Provisional
Source : Selected Educational Statistics 2002-2003, Ministry of Human Resource Development.
website : http:/indiabudget.nic.in
232 Economic Survey 2004-2005
schools with boarding facilities at Zilla Saksharata Samities (District Level
elementary level for girls belonging Literacy Societies).
predominantly to the SC, ST, other
10.27 NLM accorded high priority for the
backward castes (OBC) and minorities in
promotion of female literacy. As a result,
difficult areas. A provision of Rs. 489 crore
female literacy rate increased by 14.4
has been made for the Tenth Plan; and
percentage points from 39.3 per cent to 53.7
Annual plan allocation for the year 2004-05
per cent during 1991-2001 compared to an
is Rs. 100 crore.
increase by 11.2 percentage points for
525 KGBVs have been approved by the
males from 64.1 per cent to 75.3 per cent
Department of Elementary Education,
over the same period, and thereby reducing
involving an amount of Rs. 123.03 crore for
the malefemale literacy gap from 24.8 per
2004-05.
cent in 1991 to 21.6 per cent in 2001.
10.25 An education cess of 2 per cent on all
direct and indirect Central taxes has been Secondary and Higher Education
imposed through the Finance (No.2) Act,
10.28 The Secondary Education sector
2004. Soon after the relevant Bill was
prepares students in the age group of 14-18
introduced in Parliament on July 8, 2004,
years for entry into higher education and
action was initiated for creation of a
employment. The number of secondary and
separate, dedicated, nonlapsable Fund to
senior secondary schools increased from
be named as Prathmik Shiksha Kosh and
7,416 in 1950-51 to 1,37,207 in 2002-03
maintained by the Ministry of HRD,
with a student enrolment of 33.2 million.
Department of Elementary Education &
Literacy. The proceeds would be available 10.29 There has been an impressive growth
on a rollover basis for the schemes of basic in the area of higher education with an
Education and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. increase in the student enrolment in higher
Budget provision for the Mid-day Meal education from 7.26 million in 1997-98 to
Scheme during 2004-05 is Rs.1, 675 crore. 9.51 million in 2003-04. Enrolment of
In addition, Rs.1, 232 crore has been women students rose to 3.81 million
provided to the States/UTs as Additional constituting 40 per cent of the total in 2003-
Central Assistance (ACA) under State 04. There has also been a significant
Sector as earmarked outlay for meeting increase in the students’ enrolment under
cooking cost. Open and Distance Education System.
Adult Education Technical & Professional Education
10.26 The National Literacy Mission (NLM),
10.30 In addition to 1349 approved
launched on May 5, 1988 as a Technology
engineering colleges at the degree level,
Mission to impart functional literacy to
there are 1030 institutes offering Master of
nonliterates and modified from time to time,
Computer
aims at attaining a literacy rate of 75 per
Application (MCA) programme and 990
cent by 2007. The Total Literacy Campaign
approved Management Institutions
(TLC) has been the principal strategy of
imparting education in Management
NLM for eradication of illiteracy. These
Studies. Recently, All India Council for
campaigns are area-specific, time-bound,
Technical Education (AICTE) has delegated
volunteer-based, cost effective and
the powers of approval with respect to
outcome-oriented and are implemented by
Diploma level technical institutions to the
State Governments.
Social Sectors 233

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