Cannot ink PM-SHRI in its current form: Sivankutty
The State cannot be a signatory to PM-SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) in the current state of the scheme, Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty has said.
The Minister on Wednesday met representatives of student organisations to discuss the issue and the withholding of funds to the State.
The Minister said the State could not comply with the provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP). However, the PM SHRI scheme mandated the implementation of NEP.
The Union government had withheld ₹1,500 crore due to the State under various Centrally sponsored education schemes for not inking the PM-SHRI agreement, the Minister said.
Mr. Sivankutty said he had met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan twice seeking sanction of funds to no avail. The State government was mulling steps, including legal action, to get the funds. 'Everyone should stand united to ensure that the State gets its due share of funds,' the Minister said.
Representatives of Students Federation of India, All India Students' Federation, Kerala Students Union, and other student unions and General Education Secretary K. Vasuki attended the meeting.
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