Updated on: Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Delhi government aims to take up construction of 30 new school buildings as part of plans to bring a much-needed expansion in its educational
infrastructure and has proposed to expand its scholarships to weaker sections of the society.
Presenting the budget for the fiscal 2011-12, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said her government is committed to the Right to Education Act, and is planning recruitment of more educational staff, opening of new schools and ensuring that private schools give the mandated representation to children of weaker sections.
A total of Rs 1,247 crore has been earmarked for education in the budget.
To expand the infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the capital, the government proposed to undertake the construction of 30 new school buildings.
An outlay of Rs 270 crore has been proposed for the construction of school buildings in 2011-12, and projects for the construction of 15 new buildings costing approximately Rs191 crore has already been approved.
Project plans are currently being prepared for an additional 15 buildings, the Chief Minister said.
As part of efforts to promote education for socially and economically weaker sections, the government has also revised and expanded some of its existing schemes to bring more people under their ambit, increasing the plan outlay for educational development of SC/ST, OBC and Minorities to Rs 124.63 crore in 2011-12 from Rs 23.85 crore in the previous year.
The eligibility limit of income of the households for all types of scholarships in government and government-aided schools has been enhanced from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
A new scholarship of Rs 1000 per annum to all students of class 1st to class 8th of SC/ST and Minorities has also been announced.
As part of its plans to expand its educational infrastructure, the government has approved the construction of facilities like 2768 classrooms, 1000 toilets, and 470 water modules.
The uniform subsidy for students of class ninth to class twelfth stands increased from the current Rs 700 to Rs 900, while the Lal Bahadur Shastri Scholarship for students with parental income of less than Rs 2 lakh has been increased to Rs 1,000 per annum for students of class 7th and 8th, to Rs 1500 for class 9th and 10th and Rs 2,000 for 11th and 12th.
Aiming to give a push to girls to join technical education, it has been decided to upgrade the Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology to a stature of a Technical University for Women.
The government also announced that it will now provide sanitary napkins to girls of class 6 to 12 in all government and government-aided schools.