Campaign focus
Fund students not schools
Who’s spearheading it?
Parth Shah, president, Center for Civil Society in Delhi. The government bought into his idea and started the Pahal scheme in Uttarakhand, under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
What are they trying to do?
Get vulnerable students enrolled in private schools.
What’s new about that?
No funds are disbursed to either the schools or the students. Instead the school is given educational vouchers that can be redeemed to cover the cost of students’ education.
Why are they going the supermarket way?
Under the Pahal scheme, per capita spend on a student is Rs. 3,000 a year. In comparison, the government used to spend more than Rs. 10,000 per child in government schools. There is also less chance of funds getting misused.
Is it limited to Uttarakhand?
Orissa, Jharkhand, UP and Rajasthan are adopting similar programmes.
Budget highlight:
Tax exemption to trusts engaged in providing education to the poor.
(This story appears in the 17 July, 2009 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
Its gr8 really that ur doing for counntry somethings we can't define lyk love and that's undefinable feeling to give any1 happyness on her/his face. Salute u frm my heart, thnx by heart.
on Oct 5, 2010I just have one word to say: WOW!
on Aug 6, 2009AT EVERY CROSS ROAD, EVERY CHASM, IT'S SIMPLY TIME TO BRIDGE GAPS. PARTH AND HIS TEAM ARE DOING A GREAT JOB BRIDGING YOUNG DREAMS !
on Aug 3, 2009I want to stand by this man..! I would be grateful if he can induce many individuals towards these initiatives..!
on Feb 1, 2010