Indian Treaty Series

TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

INTRODUCTION

In the last fifty years India has made considerable progress in primary education (i.e. grades I to V), which resulted in improved enrolment, retention and quality of primary schooling. Nevertheless, the challenges remain: almost 60 percent of women and 45 percent of men are illiterate and some 33 million children in the 6-11 age group and 30 million in the 11-14 age group are not attending school. 65 to 70 percent of these out-of-school children are girls. Although the Government of India (GOI) had introduced a range of programmes and projects in primary education over the last decades, enrolment and retention still remain an issue among the most deprived children. Children from Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) communities, migrating households as also street and working children, and children with disabilities continue to require special targeting.

The National Policy on Education (1986) and Programme of Action (1986 and 1992) marked a turning point in India's approach to elementary education. The GOI took an important policy decision to explore alternative management structures for effective implementation of basic education projects. This was given further impetus by the 1991 international Jomtien Declaration for Education For All (EFA) - which further strengthened GOI's resolve to step up efforts to universalise elementary education. A number of primary education and EFA initiatives were launched in the larger framework of the constitutional obligation to ensure the right of every child to basic education. Taken together these projects involved over two-thirds of the primary schools in the country.

The latest of these initiatives, the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP), launched in 1994, initially addressed the problems in 42 educationally backward districts and was expected to cover 110 districts by the end of the 8th Plan (31 March 1997), a target that has been significantly surpassed. DPEP is currently being implemented in 219 districts in 18 states. The programme is being extended to 8 more districts in Orissa, 10 districts in Rajasthan and 6 in Gujarat. In its conception and implementation, DPEP has played a catalytic role in spreading lessons learnt to other non-DPEP districts.

DPEP funds were leveraged by the Government to initiate decentralised district based planning, augment investment of financial and human resources to enhance outreach, provide additional teachers and parateachers, improve quality of school environment and stimulate pedagogic reform and community mobilisation. The GOI strategically deployed resources - financial and human - to reach out to disadvantaged communities as well as girls with a view to closing the gap in enrolment and educational attainment between boys and girls and between different social categories (SC/ST). The government also introduced new project management systems in the form of autonomous societies at the state level. This was done to instil a sense of urgency, accelerate the pace of implementation in a mission mode and monitor resource utilisation and progress. The EC supported the DPEP Programme with a grant of EURO 150 million.

SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN (SSA)

Building on the base of DPEP and other initiatives, GOI is planning the launch of a Programme for universalising elementary education: the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) - a people's movement for universal elementary education. In line with the enhanced commitment to financing elementary education, GOI has increased the domestic funds allocated to elementary education to EURO 3.07 billion under the central sector of the Ninth Five Year Plan (1 April 1997 - 31 March 2002) as compared to EURO 573 million in the 8^th Plan outlay. The budget provided by the Department of Elementary Education and Literacy (DOEEL) for elementary education in 2000-2001 was increased by 26.4% (to EURO 880 million) as compared to EURO 696 million in the previous year.

The SSA has two main features. Firstly, it is a holistic and convergent framework for the implementation of Elementary Education schemes. This convergence will be at the district level and would reflect in District Elementary Education Plans. Secondly, SSA is a programme with a separate budget provision for filling the missing gaps to achieve UEE. The SSA will build on the experience of earlier initiatives and will be implemented by the GOI in partnership with the State Governments with a long-term perspective of cost sharing and through a district level decentralised management framework involving local bodies.

SSA will be implemented over a ten-year period up to 2010, the year by which the entire country is expected to have reached UEE. Preparatory activities have already begun in 19 non-DPEP low literacy districts. The 42 DPEP Phase I districts, which are reaching the end of implementation in 2001, are seen as the ideal site for playing a catalytic role for process development and dissemination of successful practices to other districts throughout the country. These districts will before-runners in bringing lessons in addressing the elementary education cycle as a whole, particularly in devising pedagogical renewal processes for upper primary education as a continuum of lower primary. Programme preparation is expected to expand nation-wide by the end of the 9th Plan (31 March 2002).

The overall objective of the SSA is the universalisation of elementary education, which will contribute to India's socio-economic development.

The programme purpose is an improved and sustainable Universal Elementary Education (UEE) system with adequate facilities for 8 years of elementary schooling of satisfactory quality and provision of alternative schooling facilities in unserved habitations, effective pedagogical interventions to make school attractive, and provision of adequate and context specific initiatives to promote equity by specially targeting the most deprived children.

In addressing the remaining educational needs, SSA aims to:

• provide access to all children in the age group 6-14 years through formal schools or other equivalent alternative delivery means by 2003;

• ensure that all children complete 5 years of primary schooling by 2007;

• ensure that all children complete 8 years elementary schooling by 2010; and
• provide elementary education of satisfactory quality for all by 2010.

• bridge all gender and social category gaps at primary stage by 2007 and at elementary level by 2010.

Achievement of the above objective will yield the following results:

1. Gains made in DPEP are consolidated, with a focus on quality issues and ensuring that children complete the full primary cycle, institutional development, improved management practices and strengthening of educational organisations.

2. Integrated planning for the entire elementary education up to grade 8 is achieved.

3. The 'unreached' are reached by developing strategies to address gender, social group issues and pockets of severe educational deprivation.

4. Quality of schools enhanced with improved teacher education, training and career support, better teaching learning processes and community links.

5. A convergent framework for interventions for universal elementary education is developed.

6. Stakeholder involvement in elementary education is widened and multi-stakeholder networks are strengthened.

7. Efficiency of the system is improved through organisational development and change management.

SSA will be implemented in a manner that will provide adequate opportunities for Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the private sector to contribute towards the achievement of these results and lead towards a community owned initiative for universalising elementary education. Some of the major thrust areas of SSA will involve:

a) sustainable and cost effective strategies at Centre, State and District levels for the development of universalisation of elementary education;

b) decentralisation and community based planning and implementation;

c) the formulation of relevant and contextualised teaching learning processes, and

d) efforts on enhancing provision to reach out to all girls and children from marginalised caste and tribal groups and minorities.

The EC contribution will be in the form of a Support Programme for implementation of SSA (SPSSA).

EC SUPPORT PROGRAMME TO SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN (SPSSA)

Objective

The overall objective of the SPSSA is to support the GOI's efforts to universalise elementary education by playing a catalytic role and creating multiplier effects that will ultimately work towards a holistic and convergent framework for UEE.

Achievements of the above objective will yield the following results by the end of the EC support:

1. In line with the SSA goals of UEE by 2010, a comprehensive set of strategies and holistic programmes, combining state and central resources, will be in place in all States and Districts.

2. Universal Primary Education (access and retention up to Grade V achieved in all states with elimination of disparities in terms of gender and social categories. The gains of DPEP with respect to quality, reflected particularly in student learning, consolidated in DPEP states and districts.

3. Management and institutional reforms required in the States to provide quality and cost-effective elementary education undertaken within SSA in at least all the 18 DPEP States.

4. An improved monitoring and evaluation system for elementary education has been established and is in use, including mechanisms for gender and social audit at least in all DPEP States.

5. Networking involving stakeholders and capacity building processes are in place in all States.

6. Sustainable financial mobilisation at the national and state (and local) level as per agreed resource sharing arrangements and based on needs to sustain SSA interventions.

7. UEE, achieved in DPEP Phase I districts and progress against established milestones in other States.

8. Based on the national plan for SSA, the UEE processes and activities piloted initially in the 42 DPEP I districts replicated/adapted in at least 200 (notional at this stage) districts in the country, with particular focus on improving quality.

EC funds will be leveraged by the government to deepen the reform agenda as spelt out in SSA and to pave the way for new initiatives. While the total outlay of the government in the current plan (Ninth Plan) and the Tenth Plan (1 April 2002 - 31 March 2007) is expected to be substantial, strategic deployment of EC support will enable GOI to accelerate the pace of reform and develop concrete mechanisms to operationalise a holistic convergent approach, GOI expects to bring other external resources available for elementary education to bear on a common SSA Programme to maximise synergies.

PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT

GOI is undertaking a number of preparatory activities over a one-year period in setting the agenda for UEE, which will further define the nature, scope and implementation modalities of the SSA. Examples of such activities may include but will not be restricted to:

• Finalisation of SSA policy document, setting well-defined priorities for central assistance for SSA in the country. Finalisation of guidelines to implement SSA through a flexible approach catering to identified real needs and priorities. About 150 district plans are under preparation for the implementation of SSA. During pre-appraisal and appraisal of the programme, the plans for programme coverage and expansion during the programme period will be discussed.

• Further work on the 7 diagnostic studies on Upper Primary Education (UPE) to address the needs of the full EE cycle, with special focus on gender and children from most deprived communities and girls. Systematic assessment of key lessons of DPEP to incorporate the necessary changes, including adoption of agreed DPEP sustainability plans by States as a prelude to implementing SSA.

• Development of draft DEEPs in 42 Phase I districts; participating States and Centre to prepare State and national support plans for SSA.

• Dialogue and discussions between the Centre and the States, leading up to an appraisal of the State and district plans.

• Creation of implementation readiness with management and Organisation structures in the states (registered Societies) and placing of minimum core staff for SSA.

• Development of measurable indicators and milestones to track progress towards goals and objectives and mechanisms for monitoring and supervision.

On the basis of the overall SSA policy framework and implementation guidelines, which would constitute the GOI's SSA Programme document, state and national support plans, draft sample DEEPS and other outcomes of the programme development activities will be appraised in two stages: "pre-appraisal" and "appraisal". The EC will take part in the pre-appraisal and appraisal missions jointly with the GOI. Other external agencies may be invited to participate as appropriate. During Programme Development, the GOI will undertake at least quarterly review meetings with the EC to maintain a common understanding of the collaboration. The DOEEL will also undertake the necessary co-ordination with potential co-financiers to develop a common framework for SSA, building on the good experience of DPEP. Programme preparation and the pre-appraisal and appraisal will lead to an Appraisal Report agreed by the two parties. Subsequent monitoring will be based on indicators and mechanisms spelt out in the Appraisal Report. The GOI will share with the EC all relevant documentation and information on programme preparation, including studies and surveys, to facilitate the process of pre-appraisal and appraisal.

PROGRAMME COST AND FINANCING

Currently GOI is generating internal resources for SSA, through a combination of reforms. To meet the additional resource requirements for SSA, the Central Government is undertaking resource allocation in such a way that the share of education in the Central, State and Local Government budgets rises to a level of 6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the current level of 3.5%. Additional resources for elementary education will be leveraged within an overall framework for which appropriate arrangements between the Central, State and local governments will be worked out. Synergies between other departments/ministries and SSA for the development of the Programme will be sought as well as initiatives to improve cost-efficiency.

The EC contribution to the SSA will be separately accounted for.

=>> Total cost of the Programme

The total SSA Programme developed by GOI is estimated at EURO 27 billion. This comprises an estimated total cumulative additional recurring requirement of EURO 15.4 billion over the period of 2000-2010 by the Centre and the States. SPSSA will be within the framework of the total sector funding for elementary education and will provide for EURO 200 million over a period of seven years for achieving UEE. In addition to the EC contribution, other donor and lending agencies are expected to provide financial support to SSA.

The remaining finance for UEE will be provided from the Centre and States' budgetary allocations.

The accounting of budgets and expenditures for SSA will distinguish between the different domestic sources and external funds and will generate timely programme accounts. EC resources will complement and not substitute domestic budgetary resources.

The funds from the Centre will be transferred as grants through the State Governments to State Mission Authorities for UEE (SMA) which will be operating as registered societies for SSA for the purpose of managing the implementation of the programme.

The transfer of funds for the additional requirements under the SSA Programme budget head will be on a ratio of 85:15 for Central and State Governments respectively until the year 2002. This will move to the ratio of 75:25 from the Tenth Plan period onwards. The Centre and the States will maintain financial allocations to elementary education in real terms at the base year (1999-2000). Additionality in contributions from Centre and States is expected for SSA. Total SSA contributions in real terms will be higher than the 1999- 2000 contributions to all schemes merged in SSA. Contributions to elementary education schemes outside SSA will at least be maintained in real terms.

=>>EC Contribution

The EC support for SSA will be within the framework of the total sub-sector rounding for elementary education for a period of seven years. The EC funds for SPSSA will be additional to the Ninth and Tenth Five-Year Plans for elementary education.

The EC funds will be provided to the Government of India as a grant in support of the SSA programme activities. The Government of India, in turn, will pass on the funds for the Programme as grants to the states and the Implementation Societies or State Mission Authorities. The SMA will establish interest-bearing accounts for this purpose and accured interest is to be used solely for the programme.

The EC contribution is fixed at 200 million EURO. Arrangements for the EC funding have been established as follows:

- 190,000,000 EURO is fixed as a direct grant to the GOI to implement SSA.

- 10,000,000 EURO will be managed by the EC to cover the costs of support activities, including programme co-ordination, capacity building, supervision, reviews, evaluation, audit, information and visibility,

TIME SCHEDULE

The implementation of SPSSA will be seven years, starting on the day following signature of the Financing Agreement.

ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMFNT

The SSA will be implemented in a mission model and a National Mission Authority for UEE will be established at the central level, consisting of a General Council headed by the Prime Minister, an Executive Committee headed by the Human Resource Development Minister and a Project Approval Committee headed by the Secretary for Elementary Education and Literacy. It is anticipated that involvement of People's Representatives, representatives of NGOs, women's groups, social activists, teachers and teacher organisations would facilitate the mobilisation of civil society to support the initiative.

The DOEEL will be responsible for the SSA Planning Process and will ensure that technical support, capacity building and training activities will be carried out. To this end, they will draw on the services of DOEEL staff, representatives from the State governments, national and state level resource institutions, as well as independent professionals.

The State Mission Authority for UEE will be established consisting of a General Council headed by the Chief Minister and an Executive Committee headed by the State Education Minister. At the District level, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Units will be established as also appropriate decision-making structures to ensure co-ordination and convergence with other programmes.

State Implementing will ensure that adequate personnel at State, district and sub-district level are available related to planning and management reform; school improvement, including pedagogical renewal; community mobilisation;- alternative and innovative education; data management; special focus groups; financial management; monitoring and evaluation. The District Elementary Education Plans will reflect all items of expenditures to implement UEE. All efforts shall be made to strengthen, empower and use the existing institutional and personnel resources. The SSA discourages parallel structures. Efforts to improve the educational mainstream are central to SSA. The pre-appraisal and appraisal of the programme by the EC will confirm the adequacy of existing and planned staffing at national, state and district levels and-also the availability of technical support to programme planning, implementation and monitoring.

"Mission mode" signifies a focused pursuit of objectives in order to achieve stated goals within a specified time frame. It requires a flexible approach, decentralised decision making, timely 'and adequate Provision of resources and strong involvement from the community at the local level.

Both at the State and district levels, Implementation Societies will be established under the leadership of Elementary Education departments and they will be in receipt of SSA funds. The societies will be instrumental in ensuring functional decentralisation and effective convergence up to the school level. They will be also responsible for improved community ownership and for enlarging the accountability framework by involving Panchayati Raj Institutions and civil society, assisted by technical resource groups and institutions.

Consultative support groups may be set up for the examination of issues identified as crucial for programme dissemination, achievement of multiplier effects and reinforcement of stakeholder participation, including civil society organisations and strengthening of existing institutions.

The GOI will ensure a mechanism for effective co-ordination and dialogue between the Centre, States and external agencies supporting elementary education during programme preparation and implementation.

The EC will appoint a full time EC Education Programme Co-ordinator (EPC) until the completion of the final evaluation mission by the EC. His/her tasks will include:

• Participating in regular interactions between the EC and the concerned Indian authorities on the progress of the programme as well as in key discussions between the Centre/States and external agencies in the framework of the Joint Review Missions;

• coordinating inputs financed by the EC with regard to supervision and evaluation missions in co-ordination with GOI and other donors;

• preparing the management information on the implementation of SSA and the resumes on the progress in national elementary education which is required by the EC to justify its support for the elementary education programme;

• drawing up and coordinating action plans in relation to the EC administered capacity buildings, activities and TA Programme, in agreement with GOT;

• collaborating with the GOI, for the preparation of the necessary justification for the release of each tranche of EC funds.

The terms of reference for all EC-supported capacity building exercises will be jointly agreed between the EC and the DOEEL. Consultants used for the EC funded exercises will be contracted by the EC in accordance with the provisions of section 9, paragraph 1. The CVs of the key experts will be sent to the DOEEL for review. A period of 30 days after delivery to the DOEEL will be available for the completion of reviews of personnel proposed for an assignment, after which clearance of the personnel will be automatic.

RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY

The Government of India is responsible to the EC for the proper use of the direct grant provided under the Financial Agreement signed between the Government of India and the EC. The Department of Elementary Education and Literacy (DOEEL), Ministry of finance Resource Development, is the Responsible Authority for the implementation of SPSSA.

Within a decentralised approach, the DOEEL will co-ordinate the overall planning and implementation of the Programme under the terms of the Financing Agreement.

DISBURSEMENTS

The contracts for services, works and supplies shall be concluded in accordance with the contract award procedures laid down in the "Manual of Instructions for contracts concluded for the purpose of Community cooperation with third countries" (adopted by the Commission on 10 November 1999).

The EC grant for Technical Assistance and other supporting activities will be contracted and disbursed directly by the Commission. Consultancies and activities related to capacity building will be undertaken after consultations with the Administrative Ministry.

The EC financial support for the SSA is established in four tranches presented in Table 1. The time between the tranches is, at the start of the Programme, 'estimated at 18 to 24 months, but remains flexible according to performances.

The tranche sizes will be related to the scale of implementation, actual expenditures at the state and district levels and projected action plans. The tranche sizes may be revised downwards or delayed to next tranches, depending on achievements and the findings of monitoring and evaluation, including supervision missions and feedback from sample district monitoring, in order to allow the necessary flexibility to changing conditions of implementation. The decision to revise a tranche size will be made in consultation between the EC and the GOI. The carry-over from a previous tranche (difference between estimate and actual) will present a financial addition to the next tranche

The release of tranches will be closely related to a system of monitoring and supervision. The criteria for the release of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th tranche and their timing will be refined in the Appraisal Document. On the basis that the conditions related to each tranche have been fulfilled, release should proceed as follows:

The first tranche

The first instalment of 40 million EURO will be released when the following have been fulfilled:

• A positive appraisal by the EC of State and National Support Plans and a mutually agreed number of sample DEEPS. The Appraisal will include a technical, financial and managerial feasibility assessment.

• Formation of National and State Mission Authorities in participating states with clearly defined management structures for SSA implementation.

• Filling of key positions at State and District levels to begin implementation with requisite technical support groups.

• An agreed joint monitoring framework which includes bi-annual Joint Review Missions, gender and social audit, independent research and sample district monitoring. This framework will also include measurable progress and impact indicators as well as intermediate benchmarks against which progress towards Programme goals can be assessed.

• Total allocations for elementary education by the Centre and the States are maintained in real terms on the base year investment (1999-2000). Additionality in contributions from Centre and States is expected for SSA. Total SSA contributions in real terms will be higher than the 1999-2000 contributions to all schemes merged in SSA. Contributions to elementary education schemes outside SSA will at least be maintained in real terms.

• Strategies and plans for development of key resource institutions, national and in participating states, particularly DIETs and sub-district institutions, are in place.

• An agreed plan for the specific components of the EC technical assistance programme.

• An agreed set of refined indicators that will govern the release of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th tranche. These will include measurable monitoring indicators to assess progress and impact.

The remaining tranches

The release of the remaining tranches will be based (but not necessarily limited to) the following indicators:

• Total allocations and expenditures for elementary education by the Centre and the States are maintained in real terms on the base year investment (1999-2000). Additionality in contributions from Centre and States is expected for SSA. Total SSA contributions in real ten-ns will be higher than the 1999-2000 contributions to all

• schemes merged in SSA. Contributions to elementary education schemes outside SSA will at least be maintained in real terms.

• Planning and budgeting for SSA are in place and flow of funds operational for all participating States.

• The Implementing Societies are established, suitably staffed and operational.

• A transfer of funds from the Centre and related State funds to the Implementing

• Societies as per approved cost sharing arrangement has taken place.

• Progress of the SSA against agreed process indicators and basic Performance benchmarks for all participating States;

• Implementation of SSA expanded in a phased manner to other states and districts.

• Feedback from intensive monitoring in all participating States.

• Satisfactory follow up on supervision mission recommendations.
  

The third (up to an amount of 50 million EURO) and the fourth (50 million EURO) trenches will also be subject to the findings of the Mid-Term Review (MTR).

SUPERVISION AND REPORTS

Supervision and auditing

To assess the progress of the externally funded part of the SSA Programme, the GOI and the EC will undertake joint review missions twice a year ' involving EC and GOI representatives, and which will be coordinated (or jointly' conducted) with other co-financiers. These joint review missions will review programme planning, implementation and progress towards goals and objectives. The EC will also use these review missions to monitor the fulfilment of the criteria in advance of each tranche release. Apart from these scheduled missions, formal evaluations of SPSSA at mid-term and upon completion will take place. Other reviews may be called for either by GOI or by the Commission and will be conducted jointly.

A Mid-Term Review (MTR) will be organised at a date to be determined and timed probably in the third year of programme implementation. The TORs will be agreed between the EC and the GOI. The MTR will assess progress towards qualitative milestone, and impact of the programme, including at the community level. The EC and the GOI will agree on a set of core analytical studies to be completed prior to the MTR mission. Major inputs to the MTR will emanate from the Management Information System, the continuous monitoring as well as special studies and surveys. Base-line studies from the 'pre-appraisal and appraisal phase will serve to generate comparative data for impact measurements. All the operations research projects and studies launched will present preliminary findings to the MTR, which is expected to provide recommendations for midcourse correction in programme implementation.

A final Review Mission will be carried out during the last year of the duration of EC support. This final evaluation will be designed in such a way as to facilitate direct comparisons between the initial targets defined at programme preparation, the result of the MTR and the situation at the end of the programme. Its results will be used for in-dept analysis of the programme.

Regular auditing (including auditing of State Implementing Societies) will be carried out under GOI procedures and the results of the audits related to the use of the EC funds will be shared with the EC prior to the assessment of each tranche release. In addition, independent auditung may be carried out for technical aspects of the Programme with EC funding, at the commission's request.

Reports

Upon signature of the Financing Agreement, the GOI will present the approved SSA policy and Strategy document providing the road map for the implementation of the SSA in the whole country. This will include generic guidelines as well as a strategic management framework for implementing SSA.

Standard reporting format will be established during the first year.

The EPC will provide the Commission with six-monthly supervision and other evaluation reports concerning the Programme, other than regular TA reports. The EPC will also provide a final report.

The DOEEL will compile narrative reports and financial data on the contribution of SPSSA towards achievement of the national goals of UEE, containing comprehensive information on SPSSA progress indicators and expenditures incurred. These will be provided to the Commission on an annual basis. The DOEEL will also provide comprehensive supportive documentation to justify the release of each tranche of EC funds. The DOEEL's annual reports will report on the utilisation of funds provided by the EC's direct grant to the project. The EC will share annual reports with the DOEEL on the utilisation of funds related to Technical Assistance.

The DOEEL will provide the Commission with a final report at the latest one-year after the completion of SPSSA implementation. All documents and reports due to be given directly to the Commission will be provided in English in five copies through its Delegation in New Delhi.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

The DOEEL or GOI will inform the Commission in writing of the occurrence of any element, which at any time during its life might jeopardise SPSSA.

A maximum of 33% of the EC funds for the implementation of SSA will be utilised for civil works activities and a maximum of 6% on management. These items should be separately identified. in financial reports on SPSSA. In the event of there being modifications, GOI will seek prior EC agreement.

The GOI and the (participating) State Governments are committed to maintaining their expenditures on elementary education in real terms at the level of 1999-2000. Additionality in contributions from Centre and States is expected for SSA. Total SSA contributions in real terms will be higher than the 1999-2000 contributions to all schemes merged in SSA. Contributions to elementary education schemes outside SSA will at least be maintained in real terms. Cost sharing between the Centre and the States will be in line with the SSA objectives, whereby Centre-State sharing arrangements will move from 85: 1 5 in the Ninth Plan to 75:25 in the Tenth Plan. The participating States will provide their share of the costs of district plans. The Centre will ensure the availability of the full share of domestic resources for programme implementation.

In addition, the participating States will provide to the EC their analysis of the financial commitments in the SSA and their own ability to meet the recurrent costs after the SSA is over. Ultimately activities will be sustained by Central and State funds.

The EC funds will be transferred to the Reserve Bank of India and through GOI procedures established for SSA to the Department of Education and States. Except when under transfer, non-operational EC funds shall be held in accounts earning interest at commercial rates. Accrued interest is to be used solely for SSA and will be reported upon.

The privileges, immunities and facilities of long-term experts assigned to EC assisted programmes will be governed by the provisions contained in the exchange of letters JB/SD/D/405 dated 5.4.1991 and F.No. 9/2/EEC-EN/90 dated 25.4.1991.

Representatives of the Commission and the Court of Auditors of the European Communities will be afforded all facilities to visit the location of the SPSSA and have access to all documentation relating to programme implementation, as well as accounting documents relating to the use of the EC financing. In particular, all documents and reports related to the application of funds derived from EC financial support will be made available to the EC's visiting missions.

Service contracts concluded in the framework of Decentralised Procurement Procedures ^23

Value of contract(s)	5000^4 < 200.000	> 200.00
Eligibility	Community, beneficiary country as defined in the relevant Council regulation	Community, beneficiary country as defined in the relevant Council regulation
Procedure	Framework contract or Simplified Procedure	Restricted invitation to tender Forecast of invitations to tender and contract notices published in OJ and on the EuropeAid Cooperation Office web site
Number of firms consulted or invited to tender	Minimum 3	Shortlist 4-8 firms
Approval of invitation to tender file	Contracting authority with agreement of delegation	If standard dossier - Delegation, otherwise Commission headquarters
Assessment of tenders	Framework contract^5: Commission Headquarters Simplified procedure: Contract award committee with participation of delegation, as observer	Contract award committee with participation of Delegation, as observer
Award decision	Framework contract: Commission Headquarters (EuropeAid Cooperation Office D/6) Simplified Procedure: Contracting Authority with agreement of Delegation	Contracting authority with agreement of Delegation
Contract	Framework contract: Commission Simplified procedure: Contract signed by contracting authority, endorsed by Delegation	Contract signed by contracting authority, endorsed by delegation

^2 Contracting Authorities: Project Management Units, Recipients
^3 Decisions on derogation from any aspect of the tender procedure and award decision falls under the competence of Commission Headquarters (EuropeAid Cooperation Office D)
^4 Up to 5.000 Euro the contracting Authority award contracts through direct agreement with 1 company
^5 For the time being Framework contacts will be managed by Commission headquarters

Supply contracts concluded in the framework of decentralised procurement procedures^67

Value of contract(s) (in Euro)	5000^8 < 30 000	30000<x<150000	x>150000
Origin	Community, beneficiary countries as defined in the relevant Council regulation	Community, beneficiary countries as defined in the relevant Council regulation	Community, beneficiary countries as defined in the relevant Council regulation
Procedure	Simplified Procedure	Open invitation to tender- publication in local press.	International invitation to tender- publication in OJ, local press and EuropeAid Cooperation office Web Site.
Number of firms consulted or invited to tender	at least 3	Open	Open
Approval of invitation to tender file	Contracting authority	Delegation	If standard dossier, Delegation - otherwise Commission Headquarters (EuropeAid Cooperation office D)
Assessment of tenders	By the Contracting authority	Assessment committee on which delegation is entitled to sit, as observer	Assessment committee with participation of delegation as observer
Award decision	Contracting Authority	Contracting authority with agreement of Delegation	Contracting authority with agreement of the Delegation
Contract	Contract signed by contracting authority Copy and supporting documents filed	Contract signed by contracting authority, then by contractor	Contract signed by contracting authority endorsed by Delegation, then signed by contractor

^6 Contracting Authorities: Project Management Units, Recipients
^7 Decisions on derogation from any aspect of the tender procedure and award decision fails under the competence of Commission Headquarters (EuropeAid Cooperation Office D)
^8 Up to 5.000 Euro the Contracting Authority award contracts through direct agreement with 1 company, non-respect of the rule of origin

Works contracts concluded in the framework of decentralised procurement procedures^910

Value of contract(s) (in Euro)	5000^11 <x< 300.000	300.000<x<5.000.000	x>5.000.000
Procedure	Simplified Procedure	Invitation to tender- publication in local press.	International invitation to tender- publication in OJ, local press and EuropeAid Cooperation office Web Site.
Number of firms consulted or invited to tender	at least 3	Open	Open
Approval of invitation to tender file	Contracting authority	Delegation	Delegation and Commission Headquarters (EuropeAid Cooperation office, Unit D/6)
Assessment of tenders	By the Contracting authority	Assessment committee on which delegation is entitled to sit, as observer	Assessment committee with participation of delegation as observer
Award decision	Contracting Authority	Contracting authority with agreement of Delegation	Contracting authority with agreement of the Commission Headquarters (EuropeAid D/6)
Contract	Contract signed by contracting authority Copy and supporting documents filed	Contract signed by contracting authority, then by contractor	Contract signed by contracting authority endorsed by Commission Delegation, then signed by contractor

^9 Contracting Authorities: Project Management Units, Recipients
^10 Decisions on derogation from any aspect of the tender procedure and award decision fails under the competence of Commission Headquarters (EuropeAid Cooperation Office D)
^11 Up to 5.000 Euro the Contracting Authority award contracts through direct agreement with 1 company

India Bilateral

Ministry Of External Affairs, India