Differences in Kerala’s ruling front over PM SHRI out in the open
The differences in the United Democratic Front (UDF) over the PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India) scheme are coming out in the open
The differences in the United Democratic Front (UDF) over the PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India) scheme are coming out in the open. A day after UDF convener Adoor Prakash said at a press meet following a UDF State coordination committee meeting that the government would continue with the scheme, Minister for Industries P.K. Kunhalikutty denied any discussions on PM SHRI at the meet. At the same time, he denied reports of any differences in the UDF, of which his Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is a constituent, over PM SHRI. Addressing mediapersons on Friday, the Minister said reports that the Congress and the IUML expressed different opinions during discussions on PM SHRI in the UDF were incorrect.
Once the Cabinet subcommittee constituted to study the scheme submitted its report, the government would announce a final decision. The subcommittee would recommend how to get out of an agreement signed by the previous Left Democratic Front government or if there were any ways to go ahead without accepting the conditions of the Union government. “Their conditions related to curriculum or school selection will not be implemented in Kerala. There should be no doubts on this. If such a situation arises, we will take a decision then,” Mr. Kunhalikutty said. The IUML had earlier strongly opposed the PM SHRI scheme. A volte-face Put on a spot over Mr. Kunhalikutty’s statements, Mr. Prakash did a volte-face and denied that the PM SHRI issue had been discussed in the UDF.
“Only if there were a discussion would a dispute arise.” Denying he had said the government would go ahead with the scheme, Mr. Prakash said the UDF had taken no such decision. A final decision would be taken on the basis of the report of the subcommittee, he said. Meanwhile, former Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty accused Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan of stating falsehoods. “The Chief Minister is now saying the opposite of what he said as the Leader of the Opposition,” Mr. Sivankutty said. ‘Clear reasons’ He pointed out that no government or aided school in Kerala had been selected for the scheme and that the funds received were Right to Education (RTE) entitlements through the Samagra Shiksha Kerala.
He said there were clear reasons why the PM SHRI scheme should not be implemented. For one, only seven months remained for the scheme period to conclude. School selection and other technical processes related to sanctioning of funds would also take time. This would likely leave only three months for the PM SHRI scheme, since its duration ended in March 2027.
The BriefWire