Pune: The state education department strongly pitched for a larger share of funding for school education from the Union ministry, arguing that allocation under Samagra Shiksha scheme was too low despite its large education system.
During the two-day conference of education ministers from states and Union Territories convened to review centrally sponsored education schemes, education minister Dada Bhuse said Maharashtra accounted for 8.6% of students but received only Rs 2,673 crore under Samagra Shiksha, just 3% of the ministry’s total allocation.
Calling the allocation grossly inadequate, Bhuse urged govt to revise the funding formula for Samagra Shiksha by taking into account not only students’ enrolment but also the state’s geographical spread and social diversity.
“Maharashtra has to provide quality education across vastly different regions, from metropolitan centres like Mumbai and Pune to remote tribal districts like Gadchiroli and Nandurbar. The existing allocation does not reflect the scale or complexity of the state’s education system,” Bhuse said.
Bhuse also sought a larger central contribution under the PM POSHAN scheme. “We have requested the Centre to increase its contribution from Rs 600 to Rs 2,000 per month so that states are not forced to shoulder a disproportionate financial burden,” Bhuse said.
The state also sought financial assistance for infrastructural development in aided schools. Although aided schools in Maha account for 25% of schools, they educate nearly 50% of students. The state bears the entire expenditure of salaries and pensions of teachers and non-teaching staff, while central assistance is largely limited to textbooks.
