National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 provides for setting up a Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF) especially for girls and transgender students, Minister of State for Education Annpurna Devi in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

What is the significance of GIF?

• NEP 2020 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. 

• In addition, NEP prescribes to approach gender as a cross-cutting priority to achieve gender equality in education with the partnership of states and local community organisations.

• 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 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 textbooks 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 Children With Special Needs from Class I to Class XII, separate toilets for girls, teachers' sensitisation programmes to promote girls participation, gender-sensitive teaching-learning materials including textbooks, etc.

The Fund will focus on five pillars:

i) Ensuring 100 per cent participation of girls in the schooling system and a high participation rate in higher education.

ii) Closing gender gaps in educational attainment at all levels.

iii) Changing mindsets and halting harmful practices to foster gender equity and inclusion.

iv) Inculcating girls’ capacity for leadership to help develop current and future role models.

v) Improving dialogue with civil society to exchange best practices and lessons learned.

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