KGBV scheme revised to include minority-dominated urban areas

New Delhi, Jan 17 (UNI) As many as 94 minority-dominated cities having female literacy rate below the national average of 53.76 per cent, can now benefit under the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) Scheme.

The Union Cabinet today approved the revised KGBV scheme, entailing the inclusion of these minority-dominated cities that are out of the 338 identified by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Similarly blocks in rural areas, where the female literacy rate is below 30 per cent, would now qualify as educationally backward blocks for the purpose of the scheme.

The revision would ensure access to education to the most deprived section of girls through provision of additional residential schools at upper primary level.

The KGBV envisages setting up of upto 750 residential schools with boarding facilities at elementary level for girls belonging pre-dominantly to the SC, ST, OBC and minorities in difficult areas.

The objective of the scheme is to remove gender disparities that still persist in rural areas and among disadvantaged communities.

Looking at enrolment trends, there are significant gaps in the enrolment of girls at the elementary level as compared to boys, especially at the upper primary levels.

UNI NAZ HS KP1724