12 SOCIAL SCIENTIST never received any formal education; 11 per cent have studied upto primary and 6 per cent upto middle level. That there has not been a significant improvement in the educational sector can be related to the fact that there has been a constant reduction in the proportion of Plan allocations for Education in relation to the total plan outlay and which has also evaded the recommendation of the Education Commission (1964-66)2 at any time during the plan periods. The table below indicates the shocking state of expenditure on education in the different plans. Table I PROPORTION OF A LLOCATION FOR EDUCATION TO THE ^ 'OTAL ALLOCATION IN DIFFERENT PLANS Plans Total Centre State 1st Plan — 7.6% 4.9 8.7 2nd Plan — 5.8% 2.7 9.2 3rd Plan — 6.8% 4.1 10.6 4th Plan — 5.0% 3.1 7.8 5th Plan — 3.4% 2.0 3.5 6th Plan — 2.6% 1.6 4.6 SOURCE : Plan Documents, Planning Commission, Government of India. Sectoral allocation to education during these plan periods indicates that there has been calculated cuts at the elementary level which is supposed to be free and compulsory, whereas at the higher level considerably more amounts have sanctioned. This indicates the elitist apporach of the education planners towards educational development The table below indicates that allocations at the elementary level has reduced from 56 per cent in the 1 st plan to 36 per cent in the 6th plan. The lowest was 28.5 per cent in the 4th plan, whereas at the university level this has increased from 9 per cent to 16 per cent and the highest beine 23 per cent in the 5th plan. Table -11 SEC TORIAL ALLOCA' noN TO Ei DUCATION (I N PERCENTAC .E) 1st 2nd ^3rd 4th 5th 6th plan plan plan plan plan plan Elementary 56 35 30 28.5 32 36 Secondary 13 19 18 14.4 19 16 University 9 18 15 22.3 23 19 Other (General) 9 16 16 19.6 10 15 Total General 87 82 79 84.8 85 86 Technical 13 18 21 15.2 12 14 Grand Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 SOURCE :Plan Documents, Planning Commission Govt of India. Though there has been a sharp reduction in the proportion of allocation for elementary level, the fourth All India Educational Survey conducted by