Responsibility of states to implement Right to Education: Kapil Sibal

Responsibility of states to implement Right to Education: Kapil Sibal

NEW DELHI: As the Right to Education completed two years, human resource development minister Kapil Sibal said that it was now the responsibility of state governments to deliver on the promise of universal elementary education.

"Whatever provisions that have been made in RTE these have to be implemented. Plans for it are completely ready so that they can be implemented after two years. I believe that this is a great accomplishment that we have achieved because if we want to change the entire structure in the country, then it is important to change the foundation, then only we will be able to build a new structure," said Sibal.
In the first year of the Right to Education, only 15 states and Union Territories had notified the rules, this number has grown to 32 now. Karnataka and Goa are yet to notify the rules, which is the first step towards ensuring this legal entitlement to children.
"Last year, only 15 states had notified the state RTE rules. Today this number has increased to 21. The ministry will continue to follow up with these states as notification would entitle them to receive funds from the Centre," the minister said.
Over the last two years, the Centre and states have been working to put in place the systems that are necessary to ensure successful implementation of the Right to Education. Last year, 11 states had notified the State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights as enshrined in the Act, but now the number has gone up to 21 and an advisory has been issued to all states to institute a grievance redress mechanism to address violations of the Act.
As the Right to Education enters its third year of existence, the HRD minister set out a ten-point agenda for states. He urged states to complete the process of neighbourhood mapping to ensure that all children have access to schools.
The minister stressed that all child-centred provisions of the law should be put into practice and that children should receive their entitlements of textbooks, uniforms etc. Sibal asked that the implementation of the provisions for admissions to children from disadvantaged groups and weaker sections be monitored carefully.