Date:11/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/11/stories/2007011101162100.htm

Back `Education to get more attention in 11th Plan'

Our Correspondent

Tiruchi , Jan. 10

Secondary and higher education will receive more attention in the 11th Plan period, Mr Abhijit Sen, Member, Planning Commission of India, has said.

Though the extent of allocation has not been finalised yet, secondary education will receive the attention akin to elementary education in the 10th Plan. For higher education the spending will be much higher. "A significant increase is likely," Prof Sen told presspersons during an informal chat here.

Allotted Funds

Against the goal of utilising 6 per cent of gross domestic product for education over the years, the actual expenditure has amounted to only a little more than one-third of the allocation. In the 11th Plan period, utilisation of at least two-third of the allotted funds will be ensured, he said.

To a query on the progress of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, he observed that while it was active only in certain pockets, the fear that the amount will be misused was unfounded.

The real problem was not leakages but insufficient knowledge among the people about the scheme. If only Rs 9,000 crore against the estimate of Rs 20,000 crore could be spent, it was because rural people did not know that they have to demand work.

Prof Sen avoided a direct reply to a question on the industry sector seeking labour laws by stating that there were "varied views" on that.