The Right to Education Act, guaranteeing education as a right to children between six and 14 years, is now witnessing some ugly bickering over who will foot how much of the cost of implementing it.
The Centre is likely to cave in to political pressure by several non-Congress-ruled states and reduce their share of expenditure. The states seeking a greater Central share are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa.
The existing 55:45 Centre-state fund-sharing formula might now be modified to 65:35.
The matter is likely to be resolved at a meeting due to be held on June 18, when the new fund-sharing formula is expected to be announced. All states had earlier wanted the Centre increase its share from 55 per cent to between 75 and 90 per cent.
Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh have demanded 100 per cent Central funding, while Uttar Pradesh has sought 90 per funds of the funds to implement the law from New Delhi.
HRD minister Kapil Sibal is expected to hold separate meetings with the education ministers of Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh on June 10-11. He will meet education ministers from the northeastern states on June 17.