By IANS,
New Delhi: Expressing his government’s inability to provide funds to implement the Right to Education Act, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Saturday said the central government should fund the state to ensure education for every child aged 6-14.
Speaking to reporters at Indian Women’s Press Corps here, Nitish said he expected expenditure of Rs.27,000 crore to implement the act in Bihar in the first year.
According to the agreed funding pattern, the states have to provide one-third of the required money.
Nitish Kumar said his government would be expected to provide Rs. 9,000 crore in the first year.
“I don’t know from where the money will come from,” he said. “The centre has to provide the funds.”
The law guarantees free and compulsory education to every child aged 6-14 years.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has also expressed her government’s inability to meet the financial requirement to implement the act. She had asked the central government to bear the expenditure for implementing the legislation.