New Delhi: Over 35 million children have joined the education system since the launch of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a central government project that aims for universal access to education, an official said on Thursday.

"Significant progress has taken place since the 2001 launch of SSA including that 3.68 crore (36.8 million) children have joined the education system.

"The number of drop-out children has declined from 3.20 crore (32 million) in 2001-02 to 45 lakh (4.5 million) in 2007-08," A.K. Rath, secretary HRD ministry, said at a seminar organised here by the National Human Rights Commission here on right to education.

"The SSA is based on the principles of universal access, equity and quality. We are making efforts to ensure universal access all over the country by 2010, while improving the quality of education simultaneously," added Rath.

Rath said that the financial outlay for the SSA has constantly being enhanced. In 2004-2005, the budgetary allocation was Rs.30.57 billion and it was increased to Rs.131 billion.

National Human Rights Commission chairperson Justice (retd) S. Rajendra Babu said the government does not need a legislation regarding the right to education to provide primary education to all the children as the Supreme Court has defined the right to education as the basic ingredient to guarantee one's right to life.

"The Supreme Court held that the right to life is inclusive of the right to education. It was explained further that right to free education until the age of 14 years is free while beyond that stage it would depend upon the state's economic capacity," said Babu.

The two-day seminar that began on Thursday was attended by state human right commissions' representatives, lawyers and activists. IANS