Fund utilisation under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan satisfactory: Sibal

New Delhi, Aug 20 (ANI): Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal on Friday said foreign funds makes up for six per cent of total allocation for the ambitious Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme, adding that fund utilisation under it has been satisfactory.

"In 2009-10, Rs 12,781.07 crore were released by the Centre to States, up from Rs 12,604.81 crore in 2008-09 and Rs 11,426.26 crore in 2007-08. The allocation as percentage of GDP, however, declined from 0.25 per cent in 2007-08 to 0.24 per cent in 2008-09 and 0.22 per cent in 2009-10," said Sibal.

"The fund sharing pattern for SSA programme was in 65:35 ratio between Centre and States in 2007-08 and 2008-09, 60:40 ratio in 2009-10, 55:45 ratio in 2010-11 and 50:50 ratio in 2011-12 and thereafter," he added.

Sibal further said due to the slow progress of new schemes, the actual budgetary allocation for Central education programmes was less than the provision made by the Planning Commission in the XIth Five Year programme.

"Fourteen innovation universities were to be set up but the plan has not taken off as the concept is not yet clear. In the absence of a roadmap, no funds have been provided," said Sibal, while citing examples. (ANI)