The Government today assured the Lok Sabha that steps will be taken to ensure universal girls' education under the Right to Education Act. Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Minister of State for Human Resources Development, Shashi Tharoor said, steps to contain dropouts as part of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan programme. He said, three thousand rupees are being deposited in the accounts of the girl students who pass eighth standard and returned along with interest after they pass 10th class. He said, 5 lakh girl students have benefitted so far under the scheme.
Conceding that there is shortage of teachers in primary schools, the Minister said large number of teachers are being recruited to improve the teacher-student ratio.On the provision of toilets, Mr Tharoor said, about 69 per cent schools have the facility at present and the efforts are on to construct more toilets every year.