Sonia to Govt: Treat SSA as a mission

National Advisory Council chairperson Sonia Gandhi has asked the government to operationalise the National Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Mission, which aims at attaining elementary education for all children in the age group of 6-14 by 2010. In a communication to the Government, Sonia has pointed out that the NDA regime had announced the creation of the National Mission way back in January 2001. However, its governing council, headed by the Prime Minister, and an executive committee, headed by the then HRD Minister, have not met even once in the past three-and-half years.

‘‘It is imperative to now convene the first meeting of the governing council and the executive committee and to spell out an agenda for action at the earliest,’’ the communication states.

According to Sonia, the SSA has to be run as a national mission in every sense of the term. She has pointed out that, so far, it has been mainly functioning as a vehicle for financial assistance to states. The SSA was unlikely to achieve its goals if treated as just another programme.

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Sonia has also made it clear that the Mission should not be regarded as a ‘‘permanent measure’’ to provide education. By the time the Mission hits the 2010-deadline, the transitory steps taken for the promotion of elementary education should be replaced by permanent steps.

The communication adds that the Mission should pay special attention to girls and children coming from weaker sections of the society.