MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SHASHI THAROOR)
(a) Yes, Madam. The Joint Review Mission (JRM) comprising of Central Government officials and Development Partners {the World Bank, the Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Union (EU)} reviewed the working of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) from 14-28, January 2013 in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab and Rajasthan.
(b) & (c) The JRMs recommended improving the implementation of the RMSA with regard to the aspects of Planning and Appraisal, Civil Works, Access and Retention, Education of satisfactory Quality, Programme Management and Financial Management. Their other suggestions include providing an indicative allocation to each State at the start of the planning process, bringing out a Project Appraisal Board schedule to ensure releases in April, reviewing norms relating to Civil Works, clarifying the remit of the RMSA in relation to special needs children, ensuring convergence with other schemes for optimal utilisation of available funds, firming up time-lines to submit audit report, placing financial personnel in position in the States and conducting internal financial audits by States.
(d) The recommendations are being taken up with all stakeholders concerned for improvement in implementation of the RMSA. The Ministry is also organizing the workshops for capacity building in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the RMSA programme.
(e) The details of RMSA annual plan proposals received by the States and approved/cleared by the Ministry during the last three years and current year are at Annexure-I. The funds released to the States under the RMSA and the utilization by the States during the said period is at Annexure-II and Annexure-III respectively.
