Union Budget 2013: SSA, mid-day meal scheme could be starved of funds

Education was given short shrift in the Union Budget with barely 17% increase in allocation that is likely to leave flagship programmes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and mid-day meal scheme bereft of the necessary impetus.
Allocation for SSA increased by 17% while Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) — targeted at secondary schools — got a hike of 25.6%.The mid-day meal scheme was provided around 10% additional funds.
In a nod to marginalized groups, allocation for scholarships for SC, ST, OBCs, minorities and girls increased from Rs 4575 crore to Rs 5,284 crore and the Rashtriya Uchcha Shiksha Abhiyan, a fresh scheme for improvement in higher education, was allotted Rs 400 crore.
Educationists, however, dismissed the increase as insignificant and something that would barely cover for inflation. Pratham founder Madhav Chavan said, “Like each year, the government is putting in an equal sum of money to the amount generated through the Prathamik Shiksha Kosh. The budget merely adjusts for inflation and the issue really is how do we get our education plans running.’’
Others sought better monitoring, like Azim Premji Foundation CEO Dileep Ranjekar who said, “There ought to be strong fund management plan, execution, monitoring and review.’’
Central universities — Aligarh Muslim University (Aligarh campus), Banaras Hindu University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Guwahati campus and INTACH — got some financial attention with a grant of Rs 100 crore. Institutes offering vocational courses affiliated to the state council of vocational training were given some relief as these are now eligible for service tax exemption. Allocation for IITs increased by Rs 1,000 crore.
Despite a government report recommending that ICSSR, ICHR, ICPR and IIAS-Shimla be revamped, no funds have been allocated. No funds have also been set aside for the educational loan interest subsidy or funding for teacher training despite a mention as a focus area in the Economic Survey.
Union Budget 2013
Budget news 2013 ​
Economic Survey