NEW DELHI: The daylong Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) meeting on Thursday witnessed the usual scene of states demanding more funds and the Centre demanding better performance. A contrasting picture of pitiable state of Mid-day Meal (MDM) scheme in Bihar and best practices in Tamil Nadu explained why the south is way ahead of the rest.
While various aspects of the Right to Education (RTI) Act, MDM and teacher recruitment remain contentious between the Centre and states, the meeting wholeheartedly welcomed the new
initiative of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), the first-ever intervention by the Centre for improvement of state universities.
Minorities' affairs minister K Rehman Khan, as a member of the CABE, talked of "development deficit among Muslims" and urged that the issue should not be looked as a religious one but as a social demand as no development can take place without an inclusive approach.
In case of the RTI Act, a stock-taking of progress was made along with the promise that the Centre is in the process of bearing a portion of burden of 25% poor children who are given admission by private, unaided schools. Currently, states take care of the reimbursement.
Expenditure Finance Committee cleared the proposal on Wednesday along with enhancement of recurring cost of more than three thousand Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya. The approval of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is awaited. The cost per child varies from state to state. If it is Rs 4,142 in Bihar, in Chandigarh it is almost three times at Rs 11,520 and Karnataka (Rs 11,848). In Maharashtra, it is Rs 10,200, Rajasthan (Rs 9,748) and Uttarakhand (Rs 18,311). CABE was informed that RTE has nearly achieved all the physical parameters. Bihar education minister P K Shahi regretted the MDM tragedy in the state, but questioned various norms like salary of Rs 1,000 to cook-cum-helper and provision of Rs 5,000 once in five years for changing utensils. He said there is a dire need to change the norms. However, Tamil Nadu presented a different picture. A senior state official said TN spends Rs 900 crore from its own coffers while the Centre additionally gives Rs 500 crore. She said procurement of foodgrain and salt is done through state civil supplies corporation. Children are given 13 varieties of rice and millets programme has been started on a pilot basis. Each kitchen has been provided a mixer and grinder for clean quality food.
Despite the obvious references among the states, CABE said there would be zero tolerance for maintaining the standard and quality of food.
While various aspects of the Right to Education (RTI) Act, MDM and teacher recruitment remain contentious between the Centre and states, the meeting wholeheartedly welcomed the new
initiative of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), the first-ever intervention by the Centre for improvement of state universities.
Minorities' affairs minister K Rehman Khan, as a member of the CABE, talked of "development deficit among Muslims" and urged that the issue should not be looked as a religious one but as a social demand as no development can take place without an inclusive approach.
In case of the RTI Act, a stock-taking of progress was made along with the promise that the Centre is in the process of bearing a portion of burden of 25% poor children who are given admission by private, unaided schools. Currently, states take care of the reimbursement.
Expenditure Finance Committee cleared the proposal on Wednesday along with enhancement of recurring cost of more than three thousand Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya. The approval of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is awaited. The cost per child varies from state to state. If it is Rs 4,142 in Bihar, in Chandigarh it is almost three times at Rs 11,520 and Karnataka (Rs 11,848). In Maharashtra, it is Rs 10,200, Rajasthan (Rs 9,748) and Uttarakhand (Rs 18,311). CABE was informed that RTE has nearly achieved all the physical parameters. Bihar education minister P K Shahi regretted the MDM tragedy in the state, but questioned various norms like salary of Rs 1,000 to cook-cum-helper and provision of Rs 5,000 once in five years for changing utensils. He said there is a dire need to change the norms. However, Tamil Nadu presented a different picture. A senior state official said TN spends Rs 900 crore from its own coffers while the Centre additionally gives Rs 500 crore. She said procurement of foodgrain and salt is done through state civil supplies corporation. Children are given 13 varieties of rice and millets programme has been started on a pilot basis. Each kitchen has been provided a mixer and grinder for clean quality food.
Despite the obvious references among the states, CABE said there would be zero tolerance for maintaining the standard and quality of food.
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