Montek: Can’t fund RTE in states
The Centre on Sunday rejected states’ claim that they do not have resources to implement Right to Education (RTE) Act. At least two chief ministers — UP’s Mayawati and Bihar’s Nitish Kumar — had gone on record saying that they cannot bear the expenses. But responding to their claim, deputy chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia said there was no scope, at least during the 11th plan period (2007-12), to enhance resource allocation to the states.
“It is their responsibility to implement Right to Education and they have to do it. At least during the remaining period of the 11th plan period, there is no scope for enhancing assistance to them. In any case provision is there in the act to share financial responsibility between Centre and states on the lines of 65:35.”
Mr Ahluwalia further argued that when the 13th finance commission prepared its report on revenue share between Centre and states, it had taken into account the recently passed act. “If the states are serious about children’s education they can manage fund. They need to re-prioritise their expenses,” he added.
Earlier, blaming the Centre for not making any financial allocations, in a letter to the Prime Minister, Ms Mayawati had said that the UP government could not bear the expenses. She had also lamented that the states should have been consulted before passing the RTE.
Ms Mayawati had said, the Centre could not decide what the state governments should do and that implementing RTE would cost Uttar Pradesh Rs 8,000 crore in the current fiscal year (2010-11).
Similarly, Mr Kumar had said that the state government lacked the financial muscle to support implementation of the RTE.
He had also said, “It is the responsibility of the Centre to meet cent per cent expenditure on this head without specifying share of the states and Centre.”
The RTE Act came into force on Apr 1, 2010 and promises to ensure education for all children between 6 and 14.
Post new comment