Parliament Question: Dropout Rates among SC/ST Girls in Rural Uttar Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4027 ANSWERED ON- 18/08/2025 Dropout Rates among SC/ST Girls in Rural Uttar Pradesh

4027. Adv Priya Saroj:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the annual dropout rates for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe girl students at primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels in Uttar Pradesh, specifically for Jaunpur district during the last five academic years;

(b) the details of schemes and interventions specifically aimed at improving retention and ensuring continuity of education for SC/ST girl students including financial assistance, provision of safe transportation and menstrual hygiene facilities;

(c) whether lack of access, child labour or absence of girl-specific support programmes are key contributors to the dropout; and

(d) the outcomes and impact assessment reports based on verifiable data of these schemes in reducing the dropout rates of SC/ST girl students in educationally backward blocks in Uttar Pradesh? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d) The Department of School Education and Literacy developed a Management Information System, UDISE starting from the reference year 2018-2019, for school data collection mechanism and to monitor learning outcome and track drop–out students. The UDISE+ 2023-2024 report is available in public domain and the same may be accessed at

https://udiseplus.gov.in/#/en/page/publications Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools are under the domain of respective State and UT Governments. The Department of School Education and Literacy is implementing an integrated centrally sponsored scheme for School education- Samagra Shiksha. The Scheme is aligned with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to ensure that all children have access to quality education with an equitable and inclusive classroom environment which should take care of their diverse background, multilingual needs, different academic abilities and makethem active participants in the learning process. The scheme treats school education holistically, in a continuum from pre-primary to class XII and provides support for the implementation of the RTE Act.

One of the focus areas of the Samagra Shiksha is to reduce the dropout rate and the number of Out of School Children (OoSC). The scheme includes the provision of opening and strengthening of new schools up to senior secondary level; construction of school buildings and additional classrooms; construction of toilets; sanitation facilities and drinking water for students, setting up and up gradation and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas

(KGBV) upto class 12, setting up of residential schools/hostels named Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas, hostels under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), free uniforms, free text books, transport allowance and undertaking enrolment & retention drives.

Under the PM POSHAN Scheme, one hot cooked meal is served to all students including SC/ST studying in Bal Vatika and Classes I-VIII in Government and Government aided Schools on all school working days.

In addition, support is provided through special training for age-appropriate admission of Out of School Children and for the training of residential as well as non-residential older children.

The provision of seasonal hostels or residential camps, special training centres at worksites, and to safeguard the health and dignity of girls, Samagra Shiksha has provision of equipping schools with sanitary napkins, vending machines and incinerators, and ensuring access to sanitary products and a safe disposal mechanism.

For out of school children at 16 to 19 years of age, support is provided to SC, ST, disabled children, upto Rs 2000 per child per grade to complete their secondary/senior secondary levels through NIOS/SIOS.

Similarly, under National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme, scholarship is awarded to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at class VIII and encourage them to continue the study at secondary stage.

As informed by the State of Uttar Pradesh, to reduce dropout rate, the State Government has implemented a comprehensive approach focused on enrollment, awareness, and community participation. “School Chalo Abhiyan" is organized to ensure 100% enrollment of children across the state. To further improve student retention, Parent-Teacher Meetings are regularly organized to address dropout concerns and enhance attendance. Additionally, Block- level Orientation Programs are conducted to sensitize local authorities and SMCs, fostering greater awareness and responsibility in ensuring children's enrollment and continued education.

These initiatives collectively aim to strengthen the education system and reduce dropout rates effectively.

As per NSS (75th Round), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the major reasons for drop-out of school children are to supplement household income, to attend domestic chores, not interested in studies, unable to cope up with studies, child suffering with some disability, poor health, education not considered necessary by the parents, preparation of competitive examination, marriage etc.

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