The Cabinet on Wednesday put off a decision on implementing the PM-SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) scheme in the State.
This followed a general agreement that the details of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that the State will need to sign for implementing the scheme be re-examined. More time will be needed to examine the matter.
It is understood that the Communist Party of India (CPI) Ministers in the Cabinet had sought more clarity on the scheme and its conditions before a decision to go ahead was taken.
The Union government has withheld funds to the State under the flagship Samagra Shiksha scheme for 2024-25 as it is yet to sign the MoU. It argues that PM-SHRI aims at developing schools into exemplar institutions that showcase the implementation of the National Education Policy, and the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan is a programme to achieve National Education Policy (NEP) goals.
Nearly ₹1,500 crore is pending to the Samagra Shiksha Kerala under the scheme. However, there are concerns over what it will have to agree to under the conditions of the scheme in exchange for receiving the funds.
Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty has indicated that the State will implement PM SHRI since it does not want to lose out on funds meant for students, particularly those from marginalised sections. The scheme will be in effect only till 2026-27, it is pointed out.
However, with the Union government and the State not in agreement over branding of schemes, going ahead with PM-SHRI in the education sector will require a policy decision by the government.
The government is also exploring ways of getting the funds released.
Published – April 09, 2025 11:08 pm IST