For edu funds, state banks on Centre

CHANDIGARH: To fund its expense on education where the finance minister has allocated ` 8,732 crore for 2016- 17, the government is dependent on Central schemes for running a number of projects. For instance, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is being helmed by the Centre with ` 750 crore coming from it. Another ` 410 crore for computer education to students of Classes 6-12 in state-run government schools is coming from the Centre’s information and communication technology ( ICT) protect. For the mid- day meal scheme, the Centre is contribut- ing ` 250 crore with Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan ( RMSA) programme getting another ` 180 crore.

Major expenses that the state government incurs are ` 270 crore on state schemes in the education sector and ` 100 crore on running and opening of Adarsh and Meritorious schools and infrastructure development.

“Since 2007, the government has recruited 48,850 teachers and recruitment of 12,000 teachers is on,” the FM told the House.

For meritorious poor students, the state has set up seven residential schools. The government would open three more schools in Ferozpur, Gurdaspur and Sangrur for which ` 105

crore has been allocated.

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3,295 CRORE FOR HEALTH SECTOR

Of the total allocation for health, ` 708 crore is meant for healthcare in the state with ` 36 crore meant for emergency response services ( 108 ambulance services) and medical helpline (104) funded by the Centre. The government has allocated ` 25 crore for treatment of cancer patients under the CM cancer relief fund. Medical insurance for poor has been given ` 100 crore; ` 150 crore for creation of cancer and drug de-addiction treatment infrastructure and ` 40 crore for Baba Farid University of Health Sciences.