NE States demand 100 pc Central funding

AIZAWL, June 18 ? Education ministers of the north-eastern States have urged the Centre to give 100 per cent funding to the States of the region under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Mizoram Education Minister, Dr R Lalthangliana said here Monday, reports PTI. Lalthangliana, who is also the chairman of the North East Education Ministers? Forum, told PTI that the forum members had submitted a memorandum to this effect to the Centre. ?We urged the Centre to give 100 per cent funding under SSA or meet the 25 per cent matching share of the States from the non-lapsable central pool of resources,? he said. The ministers also asked the Centre to provide 100 per cent funding of World Bank scheme for improvement of technical education by way of upgradation and strengthening of polytechnics. ?In the present funding system, the States bore 10 per cent and we asked to provide 10 per cent State share out of the non-lapsable central pool of reserves,? he said and added that the NE education ministers also expressed desire to have 100 per cent funding for Hindi propagation and education.