Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan pledges inclusive education for SC/ST and marginalised students

Kasaragod: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday emphasised that no student from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) or other marginalised communities should be left behind in the state’s push towards a knowledge-driven Kerala.

Speaking at an event at Durga Higher Secondary School Auditorium in Kanhangad, the Chief Minister said the government’s primary goal is to integrate marginalised sections into the mainstream and provide equal opportunities in education, employment, and social welfare.

The campaign, launched on Gandhi Jayanti under the motto "Leap towards knowledge and employment", reflects Gandhiji's vision of social inclusivity.

CM Vijayan highlighted several initiatives aimed at empowering marginalised communities. The Unnathi Scholarship has enabled over 1,000 SC/ST students to pursue higher education abroad, while technical training programmes under state skill development schemes help students secure employment within six months of course completion.

He also cited Palakkad Medical College, which admits 72 SC/ST students annually, noting that since 2014, 413 SC and 15 ST students have graduated as doctors serving Kerala’s healthcare system. The Training for Career Excellence (TRACE) programme provides stipendiary training to more than 5,000 youths in fields including engineering, law, nursing, paramedical, management, and journalism.

The Chief Minister underlined the Smart Study Room Initiative, offering Rs 2.5 lakh per unit, and highlighted LIFE and SAFE housing schemes that ensure secure homes for marginalised families. Over 13 lakh students, including 4.5 lakh SC and 80,000 ST students, currently benefit from various pre- and post-matric scholarships under the state’s e-Grants programme, irrespective of family income.

He also stressed ongoing campaigns covering sanitation, anti-drug drives, healthcare, employment, rights awareness, and disaster preparedness, saying the government is committed to ensuring that "the taste of development and touch of welfare reaches every region, leaving no one behind".

IANS