GENDER INCLUSION FUND (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - Social Justice)

Context: National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 provides for setting up a Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF) especially for girls and transgender students to build the nation’s capacity to provide equitable quality education for all girls as well as transgender students,  information was given by the Minister of State for Education in the Lok Sabha.

Key Points

• The NEP focuses on ‘Equitable and Inclusive Education’ which reverberates the idea that no child should be left behind in terms of educational opportunity because of their background and socio-cultural identities. 
• It has taken into account the concerns of the Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) which includes female and transgender individuals. 
• NEP prescribes to approach gender as a cross-cutting priority to achieve gender equality in education with the partnership of states and local community organizations.
• The objectives of NEP for equitable and quality education for girl children are being met through specific provisions under Samagra Shiksha 2.0 by allocating dedicated resources for Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs).
• Under Samagra Shiksha, various interventions have been targeted for providing quality education to girls, which include:
• Opening of schools in the neighbourhood to make access easier for girls,
• Free uniform and text-books to girls up to class VIII, 
• Additional teachers and residential quarters for teachers in remote/hilly areas, 
• Appointment of additional teachers including women teachers, 
• Stipend to CWSN girls from class I to class XII, separate toilets for girls, 
• Teachers' sensitization programmes to promote girls participation, 
• Gender-sensitive teaching-learning materials including text books etc.
• To reduce gender gaps at all levels of school education, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), which are residential schools from class VI to XII for girls belonging to disadvantaged groups such as SC, ST, OBC, Minority and Below Poverty Line (BPL), are sanctioned in Educationally Backward Blocks. 
• As on July 30, a total of 5639 KGBVs have been sanctioned in the country with the enrolment of 6.88 lakh girls. 
• The task of up-gradation of the KGBVs was started in the year 2018-19 and till the year 2022-23, a total of 357 KGBVs have been approved for up-gradation to Type-II (class 6-10) and 2010 KGBVs have been approved for up-gradation to Type-III (class 6-12).