LOK SABHA
Facilities in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas
3638. SHRI HAJI FAZLUR REHMAN:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the facilities provided to girl students in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) in the country;
(b) the standards set for the food served to the girl students in KGBVs along with the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is aware of the serious illness of many girl students in KGBV in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh due to stale food and if so, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the details of the action taken against the culprits in the case?
(SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)
(a) & (b): Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) are residential schools from classes VI to XII, set up in Educationally Backward Blocks for girls belonging to disadvantaged groups such as SC, ST, OBC, Minority and Below Poverty Line (BPL). The girls residing in KGBVs are provided access to quality education and hostel facility with proper infrastructure for living and learning in a healthy and safe environment. Educational facilities like academic support through trained teachers, wardens & staff, free textbooks, supplementary teaching learning material, library books, uniforms are provided to the girls residing in KGBVs. The other facilities like bedding, food & lodging, drinking water & sanitation, electric installation, incinerators, medical care/contingencies are provided free of cost to the girls of KGBVs. Further vocational training/specific skill training and Self-defence training is also imparted to girls for their overall development.
In the draft framework of Samagra Shiksha, minimum requirements for KGBVs which include kitchen equipment, food facilities and appointment of cooks, have been specified to serve freshly cooked food to the girls residing in KGBVs. States and UTs need to follow these minimum requirements. Further, it is also mentioned in the draft framework of Samagra Shiksha that one of the walls of the hostel has to be painted with the exact details of what the scheme entails and what each beneficiary is entitled to under the scheme, for the information to be readily accessible.
(c) & (d): Education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution. Administrative matters and operationalization of KGBVs come under the purview of concerned State Government. The respective states monitor and look after the quality and quantity of food served to the KGBV girls in terms of nutritional content and hygiene etc. The State Government of Uttar Pradesh has informed that a high level enquiry committee has been constituted to inquire into the incident.