Kerala agreed to PM SHRI scheme to avoid losing ₹1,500 crore, says V Sivankutty

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty has clarified that the state government agreed to the Centre’s PM SHRI scheme solely to prevent the loss of approximately ₹1,500 crore in central funds.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, Sivankutty said the Centre had withheld ₹1,500 crore in Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) funds due to the state’s non-implementation of the PM SHRI scheme. “The issue is whether to lose this amount or not. The education department believes the funds should not go to waste, which is why steps are being taken now,” he said, adding that 165 schools have been selected under the scheme.

The minister stated that the state government would continue to prepare its own textbooks, noting that the agreement with the Centre allows either party to withdraw at any time after due discussion. “If an agreement cannot be reached, we have the right to approach the court,” he said.

Sivankutty asserted that Kerala will not compromise on the education policies of the Left Democratic Front. “Lessons about RSS leaders will not be taught in Kerala. That is only K Surendran’s dream,” he said. He added that textbooks for Classes 1 to 10 have already been printed, and Kerala has a record of publishing alternative textbooks whenever it had disagreed with the Centre’s content.

“We do not accept any policy of the central government that we find wrong,” Sivankutty said, noting that Samagra Shiksha funds are also used to support autism centres across the state. Employees at these centres have gone unpaid for two months due to the freeze in funds. Around 150 ‘Varnakudaram’ projects are also funded through SSK.

“In view of all this, the education department has taken steps to ensure that the funds are not lost,” the minister said.