CM Omar Abdullah strongly pleads for funding under SSA on 90:10 North East pattern

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Union HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal and discussed with him the issue of swift implementation of Sarva Shikska Abhiyan (SSA) in the State for improving educational standards of children.

New Delhi, July 08: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Union HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal and discussed with him the issue of swift implementation of Sarva Shikska Abhiyan (SSA) in the State for improving educational standards of children.

During the discussions, Abdullah said that in order to make the scheme more fruitful, funding pattern of SSA should be on 90:10 basis, as is in case of North-Eastern states. He impressed upon the Union Minister that J&K has shown better results under SSA as it has registered improvement in school-going children and the reduction in dropout rate, adding J&K educational system needs to be augmented by creating additional infrastructure under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

The Union Minister assured the Chief Minister that the matter shall be processed and placed before the Union Cabinet for consideration.

Other issues which were raised during the meeting with Union HRD Minister were 100 per cent funding of colleges under PMRP and also for colleges in 11 educationally-backward districts of the State.

The Union Minister assured that this issue will be examined in HRD Ministry for 100 per cent funding for construction of colleges so that educational infrastructure is made available in every corner of the State. He assured to extend his full cooperation for strengthening satellite campuses of Jammu and Kashmir universities by way of providing necessary support for building infrastructure and other facilities in these campuses.  (NAK)