DR JOSHI ASKS DONOR NATIONS TO SUPPORT
SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN WITH $ 3 BILLION
In the High Level
Group meeting’s session on funding of the education for all
initiative, Dr Joshi today reminded donor agencies of the commitments
made by them at Dakar and asked them to help bridge the resource
gap in the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Today is the concluding day
of the international High Level Group meeting on education
for all.
Dr Joshi said that
India’s requirement for EFA in the 10th Plan is $ 6.5
billion, of which $ 3.5 billion is being raised from domestic
resources but a large gap of $ 3 billion needs donor agencies’
support.
Dr Joshi also said
that the Fast Track Initiative, that is meant to help the countries
needing immediate international support, is neither fast nor on
track yet. World Bank, which is coordinating the FTI, must quicken
the pace. The Minister suggested that the World Bank should set
up a fund in which all donors can contribute and which can then
be applied to eligible countries. There should be no conditionalities.
The Minister
said that the identification of countries eligible for FTI assistance
was originally only 18, which accounted for only 3 million out
of school children. This list should be enlarged to include countries
like India and Nigeria where much larger number of out of school
children exist.
Since developing
countries have agreed and promised to help in development, eradication
of illiteracy and health issues, they should now deliver, the
Minister said.
