Government to set up 5 Navodaya Vidyalayas under Public-Private Partnership

Updated on: Wednesday, September 26, 2012

For the first time, the government is setting up five Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas under Public-Private Partnership. So far, there are 586 JNVs across 576 districts fully funded by the HRD ministry.

The five JNVs under PPP would be set up at Nandurbar (Maharashtra), Narmada (Gujarat), Dahod (Gujarat), Palamau (Jharkhand) and Gaya (Bihar).

The private partner will be entrusted with the design, construction and landscaping of the school. The private partner will also be responsible for operation and maintenance of all services and financing of capital and operating expenditure. The total cost of each JNV will be less than Rs 100 crore. Teaching and academic activities will be entirely managed by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.

HRD ministry has moved a note seeking comments of Planning Commission, department of expenditure, economic affairs and law ministry.

The PPP mode is being brought into JNVs, with an average pass ratio of 96.41%, as HRD ministry feels involvement of private players for asset creation and maintenance would bring value for money. As per the note, private sector is expected to be involved for 17 years of which the first two years would be for construction. Private players would have to provide services like management of mess, hostel, gym, science and computer laboratory and library.

During the construction stage, 60% of the project cost will be given to the private player through construction linked payment mechanism. Rest 40% of the cost that includes annual operational expense and maintenance expenditure will be paid quarterly during operation of the project.

There is provision for penalty in the service agreement if the maintenance/services are not as per the minimum required standard. Contract may be cancelled if quality of service remains poor during the operation stage. On its part, NVS will have to guarantee 95% seat occupancy during the operation stage.

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