PM SHRI: Samastha organ flays Kerala govt for lack of clear, firm stand
text_fields
Kozhikode: The new Kerala government of the United Democratic Front (UDF) led by chief minister VD Satheesan has come under a damning criticism from Samastha faction's organ 'Suprebhatham' daily, for the former's lack of a firm stand and clarity on its policy regarding the PM SHRI (The Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme, more so because the UDF had vehemently opposed it and slammed the LDF government for signing up to it.
In its editorial on Thursday, the daily newspaper of the Sunni organisation, Samastha Kerala Sunni Jemiyyathul Ulama, seen as friendly to the UDF partner Indian Union Muslim League, denounced the recent statements by government sources regarding the state's policy on the PM SHRI scheme for which the previous government of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) had first signed and then following widespread criticism from various corners it backtracked. That backtracking had taken the form of suspending follow-up actions on the implementation of the scheme and the state informing the Centre that it was holding further steps.
PM SHRI was a subject of heated debates ever since the Centre made release of central funds, such as for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA), conditional on the state government's acceptance of the National Education Policy 2020, many items of which were unacceptable to the then government. It is pertinent that the Congress-led UDF Opposition had severaly criticised the then state government's virtual capitulation before the Centre's muscle-flexing on the matter.
The LDF government had to face flak for the reason that the signing up to the PM SHRI was done stealthily, without cabinet approval or any discussion at the LDF co-ordination forum. For this, even a leading constituent of the front, the Communist Party of India (CPI) had given ultimatum to the government to withdraw from the scheme which was eventually done. But it is unclear as yet whether such a withdrawal would be in order and valid.
When asked about the acceptance or otherwise of PM SHRI by the new government, chief minister VD Satheesan had not given a clear answer either way, but only said the matter needed to be studied and an agreement to implement it had been given by the previous LDF government.
The Suprabhaatham editorial slams the new government for not only not taking a firm and clear stand on the issue, but also for its inclination not to have any friction with the Centre in any matter. The paper cites the absence of any such reference against the Centre in the Governor's policy address or in other pronouncements by the government spokesmen. It opines that even if the governor would have locked horns with the government on this, at no other forum was any such disapproval of the Centre visible from the new government. The editorial also reminded the governemnt that people had given the front a huge mandate for firm stances on such issues and the ruling alliance, believed to be keen on keeping its word on all its other promises, is taking such an ambivalent position on crucial issues.
Even on PM SHRI, the paper cites the example of Tamil Nadu where the current government, which came to power defeating the previous DMK-led front, is continuing its policy of opposing the conditions in the PM SHRI scheme. The present Kerala government is unable to declare its stance on the scheme for which the LDF had given its approval under coercion, but subsequently froze all action.
Apart from the substance of the Suprabhaatham criticism, the fact that a Muslim League-friendly faction's organ has chosen to put the government on the defensive within a short period since its taking charge bears signals of such plain speaking in future too, even if unfavourable to the UDF.