The government of India recently rolled out a project called “Rejuvenation of basic infrastructure and overall cleanliness of government schools,” with a total allocation of Rs 4,800 crore. Uttar Pradesh has been allocated the largest portion of this funding, with an estimated share of Rs 717.6 crore, or 15% of the total allocation.

 

The project, which was developed by Niti Ayog, aims to address infrastructural gaps in government schools through collaboration with various departments, including panchayati raj, rural development, power, housing and urban development, and drinking water and sanitation. The scheme includes major repairs of dilapidated buildings, as well as minor repairs such as whitewashing, functional toilets, electricity connections, functional drinking water facilities, and boundary walls.

 

These provisions and maintenance of basic school infrastructure are crucial in addressing issues such as out-of-school children, improving student attendance, and reducing dropout rates among marginalized sections, according to officials. UP’s director general of school education, Vijay Kiran Anand, stated that the project will be instrumental in transforming government schools in the state. The timeline for implementation of the scheme is six months, from February to July. 

 

In a letter to the chief secretaries of all states, the secretary of the department of school education and literacy in the Union Ministry of Education, Sanjay Kumar, emphasized the importance of not only physical cleanliness but also full equipment in terms of basic infrastructure and facilities for a holistic teaching-learning process, as outlined in the National Education Policy-2020.