This information was provided by Minister of State for HRD M A A Fatmi while replying to a question in Lok Sabha on Tuesday on the amount earned as a result of the cess in the last three years.

He said a total of Rs 10,393 crore was collected in one year since the cess was introduced, adding the revenue being earned as a result of the levy was being spent on improving the standard of primary education, universal education and in implementing and expanding the mid-day meal scheme in schools.

To a question on the adult literacy mission, he said in the 11th Five Year Plan, people in the 35-plus age group would also be included in the project, which has been targeting the 18-33 age group so far.

Stressing that the country was well on track to achieving 85 per cent literacy rate by 2012, Fatmi said the gross enrolment ratio in schools has gone up to 110 per cent and there was now 98 per cent accessibility to schools.

He, however, expressed concern over teachers not being present in schools in states like Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.