APPENDIX E
QUESTION OF GIVING GREATER PERCENTAGE OF CENTRAL ASSISTANCE TO FINANCE THE BACKWARD STATES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF EDUCATIONAL SCHEMES SPONSORED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
 

In order to prepare grounds for implementation of the provisions of compulsory Primary education in the Constitution and for expansion of Women's education, Government of India have been sponsoring inter alia the following schemes:-

(i) Opening of Primary schools

(ii) Opening of Elementary Training schools

(iii) Opening of M.E. schools for boys, and girls

(iv) Opening of High schools for boys and girls

(v) Conversion of High schools to Higher Secondary schools

(vi) Construction of quarters. for Women teachers in schools

(vii) Opening of colleges for Women students

They have been contributing about 50 per cent for implementation of these and similar other schemes. Though the Government of Orissa are spending 17.2 per cent of the total budget (1955-56) which is fairly high as compared with similar figures of other States, the per capita expenses for education comes to about only Rs. 1-8-0, whereas in other States it is more or less about Rs. 4. This is due to the fact that the total expenditure in the State is small as compared with most of the other States in India. Since this State has to find 50 per cent of the expenditure on Government of India sponsored schemes for expansion of Primary and Secondary education, the amount of Central help that this State could get becomes very much limited. As a matter of fact the more well-to-do States can afford to spend more on these schemes and are hence able to draw more funds from the Government of India. Consequently the relative position of this State as compared with more advanced States in the matter of Primary and Secondary education becomes worse and the difference becomes more pronounced instead of being reduced. The following chart would show the position in 1953-54 in the matter of literacy and Primary, Secondary and University education:-

                                                    

             Items                         Orissa    Madras      West    Bombay   Assam
                                                                 Bengal
             1                             2           3            4       5        6
                                                    

        
        Percentage of literacy (1951)      13.3      23         26.3      30.5     22.5
        
        No. of teachers (Primary schools)  13.6      25           20        25       20
        per 10,000 of population
        
        No. of teachers (Secondary schools) 3.6       6          9.8       5.4      9.7
        per 10,000 of population
        
        No. of matriculates per  10.000     2.5     5.7         16.6        12      5.8
        of population
        
        Output of graduates per 1,00,000    3.5    12.4         16.7        16      6.9
        of population
                                                    

                                                    

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It would be seen from this that not only the States like Madras, West Bengal and Bombay, but even the State of Assam is very much more advanced. It is, therefore, suggested, that if Orissa and other States in the same position as Orissa have to be brought up to the level of other States in the matter of education, the least that the Government of India could do is to give a greater percentage of help for at least the schemes that are sponsored by the Government of India.

It would be very much better if a lump sum is given to the State, of Orissa and to other States in the same position for expansion. of education:

In many of the State's schemes for expansion of Primary, Middle English and Secondary education it is expected that a certain amount of local contribution has to be found first before the State can come and help. Applications are pouring in from all parts of Orissa for establishment of Primary, Middle English and Secondary schools. But in most of them the local people express their inability to contribute 50 per cent for construction of building or 33 per cent for management of the schools. As a matter of fact a large number of applications have been received by now requesting the State Government to take over the management of the existing schools or to establish new schools at the cost of Government. There is a feeling that these schools are in many cases necessary. But the resources of the State Government are too meagre to meet the demands of the people.

Under the circumstances expansion of education at the Primary and Secondary level becomes retarded and the one way in which it can be accelerated is by getting financial help in some form or other from the Government of India.

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