"States are right in saying this. They are left with little resources" to implement RTE, BJP President Nitin Gadkari said. He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of an education ministers conference of BJP-ruled states.
Gadkari said providing rural road connectivity and drinking water was still a big challenge for many states. Besides, there is the issue of paying higher salary to employees creating further budgetary constraints, he said.
The states are demanding a revision in the fund sharing ratio to 90:10 instead of 65:35. "In Maharashtra alone Rs 7,500 crore go towards payment of salary. Therefore, raising the Centre's share to 90 per cent would help in expediting the implementation of the Act," Gadkari said.
He asked the states to enact legislations which would ensure transparency in the admission process in medical and engineering institutes, and fix 80 per cent of the seats on merit basis while earmarking the rest as donation seats.
Addressing the conference, he asked the education ministers to prepare long-term and short-term plans for the overall development of the education sector and a vision document for the next 15 to 20 years.
He said his party would encourage spread of computer education and setting up of more technical institutes. "We also welcome charitable trusts to invest in the education sector without any commercial interest in mind," he said.
He also welcomed the Muslim community in supporting the cause of the education sector and enabling the use of their property for establishment of educational institutions.