FINANCING
 

Paucity of funds has been viewed as one of the greatest stumbling blocks in augmenting educational facilities. The attention is drawn towards the apathy of planners and administrators for making realistic budget provisions for attaining the stipulated targets. A Delhi based voluntary welfare organisation strongly urges that the share of educational expenditure in GNP should be raised to 6 per, cent by 1990 A.D. and 8 Per cent by 2000 A.D. There are others who have suggested to raise it to 10 per cent without any brooding and delay.

However, sever forums have taken financial constraints as rigid and for granted. With apathy and given helplessness of politicians. and bureaucrats they have come forth with some suggestions to check wasteful unproductive experience and augment resources where feasible, in a number of ways. In higher education sector, which consumes a age chunk of our scarce resources and where "three fourths of colleges perform baby sitting role" there is a common opinion as not to subsidise it any further. It is, further, proposed that the present` system of grant in aid to colleges can be replaced by a system of loans and the loans amount should cover the full cost of education.

Education tax/cess may be imposed to augment resources for education

Industries, religious institutions may be encouraged to undertake educational programmes and they may be given taxrelief on such expenditure.

Uniformity in grant-in- aid is desirable the share of non- ecurring grants for all the institutions should be to the tune of 20 per cent.

The beneficiaries of higher education should pay back the expenses incurred by state on them. The educated persons should be allowed to leave for abroad only when the amount spent on their education is refunded by them.

For technical education it, is suggested that a part of the tax collection from industrial and commercial institutions may be earmarked for improving existing facilities in the technical education institutions.

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In rural areas, panchayats should be given greater responsibility and financial control for effective utilisation of funds.

An action group Delhi looks for active rather full community support in funding the programme of mid-day meals and providing 2 sets of uniform to pupil attending school.

Rural urban dictomy in the provision of education facilities, its financing are some serious matters which contribute to continued inequalities in education. An all India based forum has suggested that the share of rural areas in educational expenditure should be raised from the present 44 per cent to 60 per cent by 1990 A.D. be raised from the

It is pleaded that the elementary sector should be allocated adequate finances :on highest priority basis and more funds be made available to this sector in the plan and non-plan budgets. Considering the, magnitude of the unfinished task and importance of elementary education, a non-political group. has suggested that the share of elementary education in total education budget should be raised, to 80 per cent forthwith.