New Delhi: Government on July 24 approved a Rs 1064.8 crore national programme for education of girls at the elementary level in a bid to remove gender disparities and improve female literacy.

The programme was given the nod by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, which met on July 24 night with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in the Chair, an official spokesperson said.

He said the programme will be implemented at elementary level as a separate and distinct "girls" component plan by making suitable amendments to the existing scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

The SSA provided for preparation of district education plans in all districts to fill gaps in educational facilities and bring all children in 6-14 years age group to school.

Under the new programme, additional incentives within the existing ceiling of Rs 150 per child per annum will be provided along with additional interventions within a ceiling of Rs 16,000 per annum.

Development of an existing upper primary school as a model school is also envisaged in the programme along with mobilisation and community monitoring within a ceiling of Rs 95,000 per cluster over a five- year period.

The programme is within an overall plan outlay of Rs 17,000 crore to be spent for SSA during the 10th Five Year Plan period.

PTI