Kerala has urged the Centre to release nearly ₹1,500 crore pending under the Samagra Shiksha (SSK) scheme without linking the funds to the implementation of the PM SHRI scheme. Raising the issue at the Conference of State Education Ministers in New Delhi on Wednesday, Kerala General Education Minister N Samsudheen said the amount was crucial for implementing several education projects across the state and appealed to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to ensure its early release.
Samsudheen stressed that students in Kerala deserve the same support as students in other states, urging the Centre to uphold the principles of cooperative federalism by providing uninterrupted financial assistance to the state’s education sector. He maintained that pending education funds should not be withheld over the PM SHRI scheme and called for their immediate disbursal.
Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No.1 Radio Station, brings you this major development as Kerala continues to press the Centre for timely education funding while advocating equal treatment for students across the country.
The minister also informed the Centre that Kerala is willing to cooperate with the PM POSHAN scheme. He requested the Union government to extend the mid-day meal programme, which currently covers students up to Class 8, to include Higher Secondary (Plus Two) students as well.
In addition, Samsudheen said Kerala would be ready to introduce a breakfast programme under PM POSHAN if the Centre decides to expand the scheme, saying such a move would further strengthen student welfare and improve nutrition in schools.
The demands were placed before the Union government during the meeting of state education ministers in the national capital, where Kerala reiterated the need for timely release of education funds and greater Central support for the state’s public education initiatives.
