Thiruvananthapuram: In a major policy shift, Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced that the Kerala government will proceed with the implementation of the Central Government’s PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme.

Briefing the media on the latest Cabinet decisions, Satheesan stated that a four-member Cabinet sub-committee has been constituted to meticulously review the project's parameters and formulate the state's official framework for communicating with the Centre.

The sub-committee will be chaired by General Education Minister N Shamsudheen, and will include Higher Education Minister Roji M John, alongside ministers P C Vishnunath and M Liju. The state will officially inform the Union Government about the sub-committee's formation, and further implementation steps will be finalised once its report is submitted.


Other key Cabinet decisions and strategic reforms

Apart from the major breakthrough on the education front, the Chief Minister detailed several key administrative and structural changes aimed at improving governance.

  • Financial Advisers for all departments: In a bid to tighten fiscal discipline and streamline budgeting, the government will deploy a dedicated finance adviser to every single state department.
     
  • Accelerated administration: To address bureaucratic delays, the Chief Minister promised that internal file movements within the secretariat and departmental offices will be notably sped up.
  • Resolution of Pariyathukavu land issue: Satheesan confirmed that the long-standing Pariyathukavu land row has been completely resolved.

Satheesan hits back at critics

The Chief Minister used the press briefing to firmly dismiss opposing political narratives and clear the air on ongoing controversies.

On the Priyadarshini Scheme, Satheesan strongly denounced what he termed a "false campaign" aimed at discrediting the government's newly launched flagship 'Priyadarshini' initiative, which provides free KSRTC ordinary bus travel for women and transgender individuals. He reiterated that the welfare scheme is designed to empower citizens and will be protected against politically motivated misinformation.

On the Vice-Chancellors attending RSS event, he reaffirmed his stance on institutional autonomy stating it was entirely improper and incorrect for university Vice-Chancellors (VCs) to do so, emphasising that academic heads must maintain strict ideological neutrality.