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Kerala to Move Supreme Court Over Withheld Education Funds
PM SHRI: Why Kerala will take Centre to the SC
Context: The Kerala government has announced its intention to approach the Supreme Court against the Centre’s decision to withhold ₹1,500 crore in educational funds. This move was confirmed by Education Minister V Sivankutty.
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The Centre has allegedly withheld these funds because Kerala has not adopted the PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) scheme, a flagship initiative of the Union government under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
What is the PM SHRI Scheme?
- PM SHRI stands for PM Schools for Rising India, launched in 2022 by the Government of India.
- Launched By: The Union Ministry of School Education and Literacy.
- Objective: To upgrade 14,500 existing schools across India and transform them into model institutions aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
- Implementation Details:
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Total project cost: Rs 27,360 crore (for 2022-23 to 2026-27).
- Centre’s share: Rs 18,128 crore.
- States bear 40% of the cost.
- Current Status: As of now, 12,400 schools from 670 districts have joined the scheme, ranging from primary to higher secondary levels.
- Non-participating States: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal have not joined. These states have refused to sign the required MoU with the Union Ministry.
Why Has Kerala Not Signed the MoU?
- Political Objections: The CPI(M)-led Kerala government opposes the PM SHRI scheme because it is rooted in the NEP 2020, which the state views as a move towards saffronisation of education.
- Concerns Over Autonomy: Kerala argues the scheme could bring state schools under central control.
- State’s Own Achievements: Kerala claims it has already implemented several PM SHRI components.
- For example, it has developed over 40,000 smart classrooms with broadband connectivity in both government and aided schools.
Why is Kerala Taking Legal Action?
- Withholding of Funds: The Centre has not released Rs 1,500 crore to Kerala under schemes like the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) since 2023-24.
- Impact on Education: According to Minister Sivankutty, the lack of funds will severely affect school-level initiatives, potentially harming the education of thousands of students.
- About SSA: The Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan is a national program aimed at universalising elementary education for children aged 6 to 14.
