THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite its earlier opposition towards the central scheme, the UDF, which has returned to power in Kerala, is set to continue with the PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme, albeit with certain terms.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the government is “compelled” to continue with the PM SHRI scheme as the previous LDF administration had signed an agreement with the Union government for its implementation and already availed central funds under the programme. He said the state would implement PM SHRI on certain conditions. “We will ensure complete autonomy of the state in deciding the curriculum under the scheme. Also, the authority to select schools for the implementation of the scheme will also remain with the state government,” he said.
The CPM, meanwhile, came down heavily on the UDF government for “retracting from its earlier promise”. It alleged that the move to implement PM SHRI was part of a Congress-BJP deal.
Briefing reporters after a meeting of the state cabinet on Wednesday, the chief minister said a cabinet sub-committee had been constituted to study matters related to the implementation of PM SHRI. The sub-committee, which will prepare the communication to be forwarded to the Union government, will have General Education Minister N Samsudheen as the convener and Higher Education Minister Roji M John, Tourism Minister P C Vishnunadh and Excise Minister M Liju as members.
“Kerala is already part of the PM SHRI scheme and the state will safeguard its rights and powers under the programme without compromising on them,” the chief minister said.
UDF should apologise to people, says CPM
He said Kerala has received more than Rs 99 crore after joining the scheme, while an additional Rs 106 crore has also been approved for the state.
The previous LDF government had signed the PM SHRI agreement in October, 2025. It had kept away from the project for three years owing to its opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP). However, it took a U-turn when central funds under Samagra Shiksha project were kept on hold. After the MoU was signed, the Centre sanctioned Samagra Shiksha funds to the tune of `92.41 crore for 2025-26. The deal was later kept in abeyance following opposition, particularly from CPI.
Meanwhile, referring to UDF’s earlier position that PM SHRI would not be implemented if it comes to power, the CPM urged it to apologise to people for misleading them. CPM leader M Swaraj alleged that the move showed that although the Congress had won the election, it was the BJP that was ruling the state.
He claimed that the previous government had signed the MoU only to secure funds, which, he alleged, had been withheld by the Centre.
The BJP leadership, meanwhile, attacked both Satheesan and Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan. Both Satheesan and Pinarayi should apologise to lakhs of students in the state for delaying the project for four years due to political reasons, said senior BJP leader K Surendran. The ABVP welcomed the government decision to move forward with the scheme.
