Indian Government's elementary education programme Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is now on its track. The programme had spent 70% of its allocation at the end of December 2006.< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
In this financial year, the programme has already utilised 75% of funds available and the progamme has shown its improvement in fund utilisation over the last fiscal. Assam and Orissa states have shown their improvement in fund utilisation, while Tamil Nadu has performed poorly in the quarter ending. States like Punjab has spent 67% of the available funds. According to Ministry, the improvement in utilisation of funds can be attributed to better project management and a stable team implementing the project at the ground level. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is structured as a long-term partnership between the Centre and states. Unlike with other centrally assisted schemes, funds for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan are directly released by the Centre to state Sarva Shiksha implementation societies.
