Orienting outlays toward needs : an evidence-based, equity-focused approach for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

In recent times, there have been apprehensions as to whether outlays under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) result from an oblivious one-size-fits-all decision resulting in equal distribution of resources or targeted in an equitable manner across various states, and within states, across districts and blocks based on informed decisions. This paper examines the biggest CSS in education, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), to find out whether outlays and expenditures at state and district levels were in accordance with their requirements, as reflected in their status of educational development. The analysis shows that there is an apparent disconnect between the real investment needs of the districts, reflected in their status of educational development (as measured by the educational development index -- the EDI) and the actual allocations made on an annual basis under SSA. The actual expenditures were even lower in educationally and socially disadvantaged districts, which further depresses the per child investments in these districts. The Central Government has a major responsibility to reorient the focus of the major social sector programmes to reduce the disparities and espouse the cause of a strong and unequivocal equity-centered approach. Under the SSA programme, such an initiative has already gained momentum, which is an example for other sectors implementing various CSS.