Latest news with #PMSchoolsforRisingIndia
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
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.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Stalin urges Centre to release pending Samagra Shiksha funds, demands 50% share to States in divisible pool of central taxes
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday urged the Centre to release, without imposing unilateral conditions or further delays, the pending funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme and increase the share of States in the divisible pool of Central taxes to 50%. He made these appeals while addressing the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Mr. Stalin said funds for the Samagra Shiksha scheme had not been disbursed to some States, including Tamil Nadu, because they had not signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre for implementing the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. 'Withholding of funds by the Centre to the tune of ₹2,200 crore for Tamil Nadu impacts the education of children studying in government schools and under the Right to Education Act,' he said. 'It is not ideal in a cooperative federal structure, that States should constantly have to fight, argue and approach courts to receive their rightful share of funds. This not only affects the growth of individual States, but the country as a whole,' Mr. Stalin said. Highlighting the financial strain on State governments, he said, based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, the share of States in the divisible pool of central taxes was increased to 41 percent. However, over the last four years, only 33.16% of the Union's gross tax revenue had been distributed to States, contrary to the Finance Commission's recommendation, he said. 'On one hand, reduced tax devolution from the Centre has impacted States' finances and on the other, increased spending by States in implementing Union government schemes has added to their financial burden,' Mr. Stalin said, urging the Union government to raise the share of States in the divisible pool of Central taxes to 50 per cent. He said the long-term vision of the Tamil Nadu government was to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth founded on equality and social justice. 'This goal of 'everything for everyone' is what we call the Dravidian Model. Our government has been actively working towards achieving the target of transforming Tamil Nadu into a $1 trillion economy by 2030. The results of our efforts are reflected in various key economic indicators,' he said. The Chief Minister said Tamil Nadu had been consistently recording an annual growth rate of 8% for the past few years. Last year, the State recorded a growth rate of 9.69%, highest in the country, he said adding that the State was working relentlessly towards an ambitious goal of becoming a $ 4.5 trillion economy by 2047, the centenary of India's independence. 'I assure you that Tamil Nadu will be a significant contributor to India's target of a $30 trillion economy by 2047,' he said. Urban renaissance 'Our responsibility is to provide the growing urban population with fundamental amenities, robust infrastructure and a high quality of life. A major scheme with substantial funding is necessary for the development of urban centres in our country. The AMRUT 2.0 scheme is nearing completion. At this juncture, there is an urgent need for a new urban renaissance scheme focusing on quality infrastructure, efficient mobility, and sanitation,' he said. Mr. Stalin also noted that the Clean Ganga initiative had achieved remarkable success in restoring the river. Similar initiatives were needed to clean and rejuvenate major rivers in Tamil Nadu such as the Cauvery, Vaigai and Thamirabarani, as well as other major rivers across the country. The names of such initiatives should be in English for national coherence and regional pride. The respective States could translate the names of such schemes into their regional languages, he said. 'Tamil Nadu will always contribute its best so that all people may prosper, all cultures may flourish and India, in all its diversity, will remain a strong nation. Only when every State progresses independently, with its own unique identity, will a united and strong India stand tall in the world arena. Tamil Nadu will always stand steadfast in support of that vision,' he assured.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya Sattenapalli shines with 100 per cent pass rate in Class X exams
PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) Kendriya Vidyalaya Sattenapalli achieved a 100 per cent pass rate in the CBSE Class X exams, with an impressive Quality Performance Index (QPI) of 66.80. J. Yashwant emerged school topper with 95.8 per cent, followed by Tapan Chowdhary at 91 per cent and Pritam Sai Narayan Naik (90 per cent). Serving students from the economically weaker, rural backgrounds, the school has overcome significant challenges. Principal J.K. Gupta, in a press release, on Wednesday, praised the students and staff for their dedication. Parents credited the PM SHRI initiative for enhancing rural education quality and contributing to the school's success.
India Today
13-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Kerala plans legal action after Centre blocks Rs 1500 crore over PM Shri issue
The Kerala government on Tuesday announced it will pursue a legal course, along with protests on ground, to recover over Rs 1,500 crore allegedly withheld by the Centre. The funds, linked to centrally sponsored schemes, have reportedly been held back after Kerala refused to sign the PM SHRI scheme PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme is a central initiative to upgrade select schools across India. According to the state government, Kerala's refusal to sign the MoU tied to the scheme is at the heart of the fund Education Minister V Sivankutty accused the Centre of discrimination and said Kerala would join hands with Tamil Nadu to secure their 'rightful share'. 'I have already spoken to the Tamil Nadu Education Minister twice and will be meeting him next week,' he told PTI cited a Supreme Court ruling in a case filed by Tamil Nadu that clarified states are under no obligation to implement the National Education Policy. He said this judgment strengthens Kerala's case to approach the apex court.'I had personally discussed the issue with the Union Education Minister on two occasions and have also written to the Centre requesting the release of funds owed to the state,' Sivankutty said. 'They have even blocked our Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) funds on the same grounds.'The Minister said the Centre has not responded positively, leaving Kerala with 'no choice' but to move court and launch protests. He urged the Union government to treat Kerala fairly and release the dues, calling the state 'an integral and significant part of the country.'advertisementThis comes two months after Tamil Nadu's Education Minister, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, accused the Centre of using the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan funds as a tool to blackmail the state into joining the PM SHRI scheme.'Suddenly, they are asking us to sign the PM SHRI agreement just when we were about to receive the funds in 2023. This is a kind of blackmail. If we accept PM SHRI, it is like accepting the NEP and the three-language policy,' Mahesh stated. IN THIS STORY#Kerala#Tamil Nadu
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why Kerala has locked horns with Centre over the implementation of PM SHRI scheme
The Kerala government has decided to approach the Supreme Court against the Centre's decision to withhold the release of Rs 1,500 crore to the state under various centrally sponsored education schemes, according to Kerala's Education Minister V Sivankutty. He has alleged that the funds have been withheld as Kerala has stayed away from adopting the Centre's flagship PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. PM SHRI is a scheme under the Union Ministry of School Education and Literacy. It aims to upgrade more than 14,500 existing schools across the country, and transform them into model institutions that embody the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The scheme 'is to be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a total project cost of Rs 27360 crore which includes a central share of Rs 18128 crore for the period of five years from year 2022-23 to 2026-27,' according to a September 2022 press release by the Centre. States will bear 40% of the project expenditure, like any other Centre scheme. So far, 12,400 schools from primary level to higher secondary, in 670 districts across the country, have become part of the scheme. However, schools under state boards in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have not been part of the scheme. That's because these states have refused to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Union School Education Ministry to implement the PM SHRI scheme. CPI(M)-le Kerala government has opposed the PM SHRI scheme mainly because it is part of the NEP 2020. The government sees NEP as a tool for the saffronisation of education in the country. Moreover, it also argues that the PM SHRI scheme will bring the state schools under the control of the Centre. The Kerala government has said that it has already implemented many elements of the PM SHRI scheme. For instance, on the infrastructure front, Kerala schools, both government and aided ones, have made major progress over the last nine years. The state already has 40,000 smart classrooms in numerous schools, which have a broadband connection. The Kerala government has said the Centre has withheld release of Rs 1,500 crore aid to the state education sector since 2023-24, primarily under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan scheme (SSA) — an Indian government scheme designed to ensure universal elementary education (UEE) for children aged 6 to 14. Sivankutty has claimed that the lack of funds will severely hit several schemes being implemented in the schools, and impact students of Kerala.
