With government’s flagship Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme showing encouraging results in expansion of elementary education, the World Bank has come forward with an offer to provide additional funding of $ 500 million (Rs 2,325 cr approx) for the programme.
The World Bank has proposed the government to provide the money as soft loans to be paid over a period of 35 to 40 years with lesser interest. The World Bank had provided soft loan of $ 600 million (Rs 2,790 cr approx) for the scheme which aims at universalisation of elementary education.
At present 99 per cent of the habitations in the country have got a primary school. Under the SSA, 270,000 schools have already been operationalised.
