DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OF ASSAM UNDER SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN

In India education has been accorded much importance since independence as it has been perceived that educational development is necessary to ensure economic and over all development of the country. In order to develop human resources in a better way it is important that education is imparted to all sections of population in the country irrespective of their caste, class, sex or religion. However, despite these provisions it has been noticed that the spread of education is not uniform and there are disparities of all kinds in the field of education. Availability of schools is not a major issue now. The real problem observed is facilities provided to these primary schools functioning in various localities. In order to universalize primary education, it is necessary to provide schools everywhere and also provide all necessary facilities to all the schools. This is because schools without proper infrastructure and facilities, termed as ill-equipped schools, may not be in a position to impart education properly and the quality of education in such schools will be poor. In 2001 the Government of India has launched Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). It is the latest effort of the Government to universalize Elementary education in a mission mode. It aims to provide useful quality education for all children in the age group of 6- 14 years for which it has set the target 2010. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was launched in Assam in February, 2002. This paper looks at the status of basic infrastructure facilities provided by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in the primary schools of Assam with special reference to Nalbari, Sonitpur, Jorhat, and Dibrugarh District.