Bhubaneswar, Nov. 18: The financial performance report of the school and mass education department, which was released recently, says that till September, the state has spent only 37.38 per cent of the total budget meant for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

The component-wise financial progress shows that only 37.72 per cent of the funds allotted for teachers’ salary have been spent. Despite regular complaints by teachers of paltry and irregular salary, out of Rs 565.96 crore allotted for the purpose, only Rs 213.45 crore has been utilised.

Although the department has been continuously talking of quality education and importance of in-service teachers, only 8.4 per cent of the allotted budget for teachers training has been spent till September.

While 14.92 per cent of the teachers’ learning equipment funds have been spent, the figure for teachers’ grant is 85.13 per cent.

However, over 97 per cent funds meant for school grants programme have been utilised. Similarly, 92.90 per cent funds meant for repair and maintenance grant category have been spent. For research and evaluation, 12.57 per cent of the allotted money has been used while only 33.83 per cent of the money has been spent for learning enhancement.

At least 23.3 per cent funds have been spent on innovative activities, while the department has used only 5.98 per cent of the money for interventions for out of school children. Of the total amount meant for providing free text books, only 24.93 per cent has been spent. Similarly, mere 6.72 per cent and 17.19 per cent has been spent for community training and cluster resource centre, respectively.

Of the amount meant for civil works and block resource centre, only 38.02 per cent and 14.45 per cent, respectively, has been spent.

The report says that Rs 1,61,7.55 crore had been allotted for the SSA project under various components of which Rs 604.67 crore (37.38) have been spent.