Jaipur: Rajasthan has completed over 82% of the school infrastructure projects sanctioned under Union govt’s Samagra Shiksha scheme over the past five years, but hundreds of classrooms, science laboratories, boundary walls and renovation of dilapidated school buildings are still pending, according to data tabled in Parliament.Replying to a question by Barmer MP Ummeda Ram Beniwal in Lok Sabha on July 28, minister of state for education Jayant Chaudhary said 9,043 of the 11,014 projects approved in Rajasthan between 2021-22 and 2025-26 have been completed.Centre allocated Rs 3,705 crore to Rajasthan under Samagra Shiksha in 2025-26 and released Rs 2,982 crore as its share. Expenditure during the year, including the state’s contribution, stood at Rs 4,141 crore.Over the last five years, Centre sanctioned nearly Rs 17,346 crore for the state and released more than Rs 13,820 crore, while total expenditure crossed Rs 23,100 crore.The state has made substantial progress in improving basic school infrastructure. It completed 1,247 additional classrooms, 1,341 science laboratories, 1,031 library rooms, 942 computer rooms, 697 art and craft rooms, and provided drinking water facilities and separate toilets for boys and girls in hundreds of schools.However, the data also highlights areas where progress has been slow. Of the 457 dilapidated school buildings approved for replacement, only 52 have been rebuilt so far. Similarly, only 247 of the 376 boundary walls sanctioned under the scheme have been completed. Of the 247 new or upgraded schools approved during the period, 206 have become operational.Barmer trailed the state average in infrastructure development under the scheme, with only 220 of the 385 sanctioned projects completed in the district.Of the approved works, the district completed 51 of the 87 additional classrooms, 24 of the 54 science laboratories, 14 of the 36 library rooms, 10 of the 34 computer rooms and 21 of the 50 new schools.On teacher shortage, Centre said recruitment and deployment of teachers are the responsibility of state govts. It said infrastructure requirements are identified annually through Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) and approved under states’ Annual Work Plans.The ministry said implementation of Samagra Shiksha is monitored through PRABANDH online portal and reviewed regularly by Project Approval Board, with states being advised to fill teacher vacancies and bridge infrastructure gaps to improve learning outcomes.
