Photo: IANS
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala has decided to implement the Union government's Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme in state-run schools, marking a reversal of its earlier opposition to the programme.
Announcing the decision after a UDF meeting on Thursday, alliance convener and Congress MP Adoor Prakash said the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre, making it difficult for the current government to withdraw from the arrangement, The Wire reported.
Prakash said the UDF would proceed with the scheme to secure central funding and that a sub-committee would identify the schools to be included under the programme.
The decision marks a shift from the UDF's earlier position when it was in the Opposition. At the time, the alliance had criticised the LDF government for signing the MoU, alleging that it would lead to the "saffronisation" of school education. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a UDF ally that now holds the education portfolio, had also stated earlier that the scheme would be discontinued if the alliance came to power.
According to reports, the UDF government's change in stance comes amid financial constraints and pending education-related dues amounting to Rs 1,466 crore. Last month, the state had indicated that it was prepared to implement the scheme provided it retained control over the state syllabus.
The move also drew criticism from the LDF. CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan alleged that the Congress had abandoned its earlier position and accused it of yielding to the BJP. He maintained that although the previous LDF government had signed the MoU, it had not accepted any funds under the scheme or completed the formalities required for its implementation.
PM SHRI is a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at developing more than 14,500 schools through a partnership between the Centre and states. According to the PM SHRI dashboard, the programme currently covers 13,092 schools across 776 districts. In Kerala, 33 Kendriya Vidyalayas and 14 Navodaya Vidyalayas are already part of the scheme.
In October last year, the LDF government had put the scheme on hold pending a review by a seven-member cabinet sub-committee chaired by then Education Minister V. Sivankutty, following concerns raised within the CPI(M) over the alleged "saffronisation" of education.
After assuming office, the UDF government constituted a four-member cabinet sub-committee last month to examine the scheme and communicate the state's position to the Union government. The panel comprises ministers N. Samsudheen, Roji M. John, P.C. Vishnunadh and M. Liju.