Haryana Government has decided to give free books to the students studying in Class IX and XII in the government schools in the State.

Education Minister Kanwar Pal on Tuesday said at present, the State Government is already providing free of cost books, school bags, other stationery and uniforms to the students from class I to VIII.

"The decision to provide free books to the students studying in Class IX and XII in the Government schools will involve an expenditure of about Rs 41.47 crore,"  the Education Minister said.

Kanwar Pal said that the Center has recommended implementing 'Rashtriya Shiksha Niti-2019' for extending the scope of free education from class VIII to XII standard. He said that the Haryana Government has already decided to adopt ‘Rashtriya Shiksha Niti-2019' in the State.

He said NCERT books are being taught in government schools of the state from class IX to XII, which costs around Rs 650 to Rs 700 per student per class. He said that the number of students from class IX to XII is 6, 19,256 and the total expenditure of books is around Rs 41.47 crores.

Kanwar Pal said the books for these four classes will be given to the students through libraries or book-banks. He added that the passed-out students who get promoted to the next class will have to deposit the books of the previous class in the library or book-banks in order to keep the books for the next class.

"The decision of the Haryana Government will not only reduce the financial burden on the parents of the students but will also help in conservation of environment as it will also reduce the cutting of trees," the minister said.

The Education Minister informed that the Nuh district has already been declared as a regional-district by the Central Government, under which Rs. 2 crore has already been provided for the provision of free books to prevent the drop-out of children. The amount has been released.