Half spent but Joshi wants more

HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi’s pet project for universal elementary education had an initial budget of over Rs 8,100 crore at the b...

HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi’s pet project for universal elementary education had an initial budget of over Rs 8,100 crore at the beginning of April 1 last year. Now, that the financial year is over and Joshi has lapped up credit for his Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, it is amply clear that he has not been able to put in even half that promised amount.

The total money spent by the Centre and the states in the countrywide school enrolment drive in the fiscal that ended March 31 adds up to roughly Rs 3,300 crore. And the Centre has blamed the states for not releasing their share on time. What it has not admitted in public is that the HRD Ministry found it exceedingly difficult to get the extra money sanctioned by the Finance Ministry. The supplementary budget in December granted the ministry only Rs 800 crore.

The final figures are as follows: The Centre spent Rs 2,733 crore; the states gave Rs 588 crore. And this is what Joshi dreamt of at the beginning of the fiscal — the Centre’s share Rs 6,100; the states’ expenditure Rs 2,000 crore.

Story continues below this ad

The total money spent over the past two years of the Abhiyaan is Rs 4,300 crore. Compare again with his grandiose plan to spend Rs 32,000 crore for the five-year period of the SSA. It is in 2003 that the Finance Ministry made it clear to him that he can at best hope to get Rs 17,000 crore. Joshi is still protesting vehemently, his ministry has turned down the reduced amount.

The state spending was not without surprises. Most states, except Assam and Maharashtra, did cooperate and reported back that they have pushed in the amount they were supposed to by February this year. It was Maharashtra’s lackadaisical attitude that came as a major surprise. The state had not spent its Rs 45 crore till mid-March.

And then the Maharashtra chief secretary, A.K. Nimbalkar wrote a letter to the ministry admitting his administration’s faults. He said funds had been delayed. He confessed that as the chief secretary he should have been a part of the Abhiyaan executive committee. Maharashtra has recently released the necessary funds but Assam continues to dither.

Sushila Karki: Nepal’s first woman CJ — and now potentially its first woman PM

World2 hr ago

Nepalese jurist Sushila Karki, known for her anti-corruption stance, is a strong contender for interim prime minister. Despite lacking political experience, she has gained support from Gen Z protesters. The recent protests were triggered by a social media ban, but issues of corruption, economy, and joblessness have been simmering. Karki could make history as Nepal's first female prime minister.

View all shorts

Live Blog