Kerala has officially communicated to the Union government its decision to pause the implementation of the PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India) scheme in the State till a decision is made by a Cabinet subcommittee formed to review the agreement.
General Education Secretary K. Vasuki on Wednesday sent the communication to the Union government.
Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty said the government had consulted the Advocate General to assess the legal implications of the Cabinet decision and then sent the letter.
The State Cabinet had two weeks ago decided to freeze the rollout of the Union government’s flagship PM SHRI scheme after the Communist Party of India, a coalition partner in the ruling Left Democratic Front government in the State, had come out against the administration signing up for the scheme without any consultation in the Cabinet or the LDF.
It was also decided to formally communicate the decision to the Union government.
Days later, the letter remained unsent, even though Mr. Sivankutty had met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently in New Delhi. Senior department officials too had held talks with Union Education Ministry officials.
The government finally yielded to pressure from the CPI and shot off the letter. CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam had met CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan on Tuesday while CPI Ministers in the Cabinet met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday morning and discussed the delay in writing to the Union government.
Mr. Viswam though said the delay was not the point, a decision taken by the LDF collectively was implemented. “The LDF took the proper decision. We are really glad that it was done. It is a victory of the CPI and CPI(M) together,” Mr. Viswam said.
Both the CPI(M) and the CPI were not in favour of implementing a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-oriented education policy in Kerala, he said.
The State should politically and legally fight withholding of its rightful share of funds by the Union government owing to its political policies, he said.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Viswam had expressed confidence that the Cabinet decision would be followed to the letter. “If it is not, we will see then,” he had told mediapersons.
The State has received the first instalment of Samagra Shiksha funds to the tune of ₹92.41 crore. The impact of the communication on further release of funds is unclear, even though Mr. Sivankutty had termed the meeting with the Union Minister cordial.
Published – November 12, 2025 08:33 pm IST
