The move, taken in view of the economic slowdown, is likely to hit SSA programme considerably
New Delhi: The Human Resource Development Ministry has imposed a seven percent cut in the Rs 45,969 crore allotted in this fiscal year for school education and literacy budget.
The move has been taken in view of the economic slowdown, a Ministry official said adding that the decision to slash the budget was taken even when the resource utilisation by the School Education and Literacy Department was quite satisfactory.
After the reduction of seven percent, the SSA programme will get hit by about 20 percent. Sources also said that the budget for the higher education sector too, that had got Rs 15,458 crore, has been reduced by 13 percent.
The budgetary allocation for the education sector for the next fiscal got a hike of about 18 percent with a plan outlay of Rs 61,427 crore. In this, 22 percent increase was announced for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
