We need more funds for RTE, says Kageri

BANGALORE: The Union Budget has proposed  Rs 25,555 crore for the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act and its nodal agency Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), an increase of 21.7 per cent over the previous budget. The question that looms large is whether this amount is sufficient to implement the RTE in the state. Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Vishveshwar Hegde Kageri said that it would not be enough to implement the Act in the state.Welcoming the allocation that has been made for the SSA, the minister told Express, “I welcome the increased allocation for the SSA. There has been an increase of 21.7 per cent only because the RTE is associated with the SSA. However, it may not be enough for implementing the Act in the country. For Karnataka, I feel we will need more than this.”The issue, as far as the implementation of RTE in the state is concerned, is the reimbursement clause. The question of who would reimburse the 25 per cent of fees in unaided schools for underprivileged children has not been answered. The Centre has not given the state a clear picture. In case the responsibility of the reimbursement falls on the state, then the costs involved are huge.“That is why the amount will not be sufficient. The reimbursement is a part of the allocation that has been proposed, which we feel will not help,” said Kageri.