Retain, enhance investment in education to fulfill vision of 5 trillion-dollar economy

Submission to the Union Minister of Finance, Government of India, by Ambarish Rai, National Convener, RTE Forum for adequate enhancement of public financing for universalization of school education:

This year marks the ten years of completion of the enactment of Right to Education Act 2009. Evidence both based on the field reports and macro-data, CAG reports as well as independent studies, points to the multiple areas of non-compliance. According to UDISE 2016-17 only 12.7% schools comply with its provisions. Availability of finances has been a big bottleneck in the implementation of the provisions of the act for education of a reasonable quality for all (Bose, Ghosh and Sardana, 2019).
Furthermore, the introduction of the draft National Education Policy 2019 calls for enhanced allocations to meet its expanded mandate of education until 18 years of age. An incremental increase on education over a period of 10 years will not address the immediate crisis in terms of quality and equity in education so a significant increase is needed now if India is to meet its SDG commitments in terms of early childhood and secondary education. This is particularly critical this year as India is poised to undertake its Voluntary National Review for the SDGs in 2020.
Investment in education is important for ensuring each citizen of India performs to his or her potential and is also, according to the OECD, critical to beat recessions, boost earnings and contribute to national economic growth. Greater levels of education increase the likelihood that citizens are employed and enhance the income earned.
Accordingly, it is critical to retain and enhance investments in education if India is to fulfill its vision of a 5 trillion-dollar economy. Hence, there is an urgent need to enhance budgetary allocation for education and move towards 6% of GDP, which is a long-standing national commitment and has been reaffirmed in the draft NEP 2019. In this context it would be important for the Central government to:Enhance educational allocations to early childhood and secondary education, without compromising on existing RTE Act Commitments in line with the provisions of the draft National Education Policy.
Prepare and present a financial roadmap for the implementation of the RTE Act: There is need to make a departure from the practice of incremental budgeting and adopt a clear financial roadmap for universalization of elementary education compliant with the RTE Act 2009. This normative roadmap should be based on the framework of equitable financing which would allow public education of equitable quality for everyone. A clear and transparent disclosure of methodology, assumptions and estimates should underlie the roadmap. Financial Roadmap is Crucial for RTE to be a Substantive Right and the responsibility to prepare that roadmap lies with the Center. (Refer to Section 7, RTE Act).
Doing so is necessary to enhance quality of education and should be prioritized

— Investing in teachers, the biggest determinant of quality education. Filling teacher vacancies and strengthening teacher training and onsite support to teachers (e.g. strengthening CRCs and BRCs)
— Ensuring adequate, timely availability of teaching learning materials including textbooks and libraries and enhancement of the overall quality of schools
— Invest more in the education of out of school children, migrants and child labourers, especially those in educationally lagging areas and from marginalized communities to address educational inequality; greater emphasis is needed to ensure that education offered is gender transformative
— Invest for the education of girls and ensure availability of more public secondary schools in the neighbourhood. Relatively less number of girls transit to secondary level, it is even lower for girls from SC, ST, OBC and minority Communities.
— Take cognisance of the RPWD Act 2016 that details many requirements for the implementation and realisation of the right to education of children with disabilities. Children with disabilities are the largest group of out of school children in the country and that strategies to bring them into schools need to be put into place and budgeted.

Provide a big push in Financial Resources to educationally lagging 16 States:

Within an overall picture of inadequacy of current levels of spending, the unequal position of the States has to be recognised. Our federal setup makes it important to examine the funds required by each State and their own ability to find resources. Sixteen States are identified where the additional resource requirement exceeds 1 percent of GSDP of the particular State. A big push from the Center for these States is inevitable if all regions and all States are to fulfill the RTE mandate. The quantum of fiscal transfer to these 16 States would need to be substantial, estimated at 1.01 percent of GDP. The additional resource requirements for RTE are: Bihar (Rs 47,736 crores), UP (Rs 38,316 crores), MP (Rs 22,682 crores), WB (Rs.19,870 crores), Rajasthan (Rs. 17,731 crores), Orissa (Rs.13,306 crores), Jharkhand (Rs.11122 crores), Chhattisgarh (Rs.7708 crores), Assam (Rs.10875 crores) and seven other Special Category States J&K, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram (Rs. 10,201 crores). All estimates are in 2015-16 prices. For details refer to Bose, Ghosh and Sardana (2019).

Allow States the Initiative in Planning and Implementation while equalizing fiscal disadvantages in the States:

Against the massive inadequacy in spending that is seen in a very large number of states, the Center has consistently reduced its contribution to overall public spending on elementary education in the recent years. Financial concurrency between the Center and the States has to be restored, given the vast difference between needs and revenue capacity in the above mentioned 16 states. However, the States should be allowed to plan and implement their programmes in a way most suited to local needs and conditions, and should not be straitjacketed.

Nudge the Remaining States for Fulfilment of RTE and regulation of private school sector as per the RTE norms:

Education is particularly critical for moving towards sustainable and inclusive economic growth by developing the skills and knowledge of today’s youth. Education is one of the most important investments a country can make in its people and its future.

Comments

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor* Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी: जल जीवन मिशन के लक्ष्य को पाने समन्वित प्रयास जरूरी

- राज कुमार सिन्हा* जल संसाधन से जुड़ी स्थायी समिति ने वर्तमान लोकसभा सत्र में पेश रिपोर्ट में बताया है कि "नल से जल" मिशन में राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी साबित हुए हैं। जबकि देश के 11 राज्यों में शत-प्रतिशत ग्रामीणों को नल से जल आपूर्ति शुरू कर दी गई है। रिपोर्ट में समिति ने केंद्र सरकार को सिफारिश की है कि मिशन पुरा करने में राज्य सरकारों की समस्याओं पर गौर किया जाए।

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das* India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

PUCL files complaint with SC against Gujarat police, municipal authorities for 'unlawful' demolitions, custodial 'violence'

By A Representative The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of India, urging the Supreme Court to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against the police and municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The complaint alleges that these officials have engaged in unlawful demolitions and custodial violence, in direct violation of a Supreme Court order issued in November 2024.

Incarcerated for 2,424 days, Sudhir Dhawale combines Ambedkarism with Marxism

By Harsh Thakor One of those who faced incarceration both under Congress and BJP rule, Sudhir Dhawale was arrested on June 6, 2018, one of the first six among the 16 people held in what became known as the Elgar Parishad case. After spending 2,424 days in incarceration, he became the ninth to be released from jail—alongside Rona Wilson, who walked free with him on January 24. The Bombay High Court granted them bail, citing the prolonged imprisonment without trial as a key factor. I will always remember the moments we spent together in Mumbai between 1998 and 2006, during public meetings and protests across a wide range of issues. Sudhir was unwavering in his commitment to Maoism, upholding the torch of B.R. Ambedkar, and resisting Brahmanical fascism. He sought to bridge the philosophies of Marxism and Ambedkarism. With boundless energy, he waved the banner of liberation, becoming the backbone of the revolutionary democratic centre in Mumbai and Maharashtra. He dedicated himself ...

State Human Rights Commission directs authorities to uphold environmental rights in Vadodara's Vishwamitri River Project

By A Representative The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has ordered state and Vadodara municipal authorities to strictly comply with environmental and human rights safeguards during the Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project, stressing that the river’s degradation disproportionately affects marginalized communities and violates citizens’ rights to a healthy environment. The Commission mandated an immediate halt to ecologically destructive practices, rehabilitation of affected communities, transparent adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, and public consultations with experts and residents. The order follows the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara coalition—environmentalists, ecologists, and urban planners—submitting a detailed letter to authorities, amplifying calls for accountability. The group warned that current plans to “re-section” and “desilt” the river contradict the NGT’s 2021 Vishwamitri River Action Plan, which prioritizes floodpla...

CPM’s evaluation of BJP reflects its political character and its reluctance to take on battle against neo-fascism

By Harsh Thakor* A controversial debate has emerged in the revolutionary camp regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s categorization of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Many Communists criticize the CPM’s reluctance to label the BJP as a fascist party and India as a fascist state. Various factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate assessment. Understanding the original meaning and historical development of fascism is essential, as well as analyzing how it manifests in the present global and national context.

Implications of deaths of Maoist leaders G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya in Chhattisgarh

By Harsh Thakor* In the wake of recent security operations in southern Chhattisgarh, two senior Maoist leaders, G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya, were killed. These operations, which took place amidst a historically significant Maoist presence, resulted in the deaths of 31 individuals on March 20th and 16 more three days prior.

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

Search This Blog