PM SHRI pact leaves Kerala with no exit, says Minister; blames LDF for ‘trap’

Thiruvananthapuram, June 29 (IANS) The political controversy surrounding the Centre’s PM SHRI school development scheme took a fresh turn in the Kerala Assembly on Monday, with General Education Minister N. Shamsudheen asserting that the state has no legal option but to remain part of the programme, even as he blamed the previous LDF government for signing what he described as a one-sided agreement that has now left Kerala with little room to manoeuvre.

Replying to questions in the Assembly, the minister said the agreement signed with the Union government allows only the Centre to terminate the pact unilaterally, leaving the state without the legal right to withdraw.

“The previous government was compelled to sign the agreement because it feared Kerala would lose substantial Central assistance. Today, irrespective of political differences over the scheme, the state cannot afford to walk out,” Shamsudheen said.

According to the minister, pulling out of the PM SHRI scheme would cost Kerala nearly Rs 2,000 crore.

Besides forfeiting almost Rs 1,000 crore earmarked for the development of 304 selected government schools across 152 blocks under the PM SHRI programme, the state also risks losing Rs 1,151.48 crore due under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, he said.

“The Centre has, in the past, withheld funds legitimately due to Kerala. There is every possibility that other grants, too, could be affected if the state backs out of the agreement,” he told the House.

The minister said the previous LDF government eventually signed the agreement only because of concerns that refusing to do so would result in other Central funds being blocked.

However, he alleged that despite the far-reaching implications of the scheme, no meaningful consultations were held before the agreement was executed.

“There is nothing on record to show that the previous government held discussions with stakeholders or undertook any preparatory exercise before signing the agreement. Even the ministerial sub-committee constituted by the LDF government to examine the scheme did not meet even once,” he said.

Shamsudheen also reiterated the UDF government’s reservations on certain provisions of the PM SHRI scheme, particularly those relating to curriculum and academic autonomy.

“What is taught in schools should remain the prerogative of the state. Such issues demanded wider consultations before entering into a binding agreement,” he said.

The minister maintained that the present government has inherited the consequences of the previous administration’s decisions and is now exploring ways to safeguard Kerala’s interests without sacrificing crucial Central assistance.

“Whatever our political differences with the scheme, we are determined not to allow a single rupee due to Kerala’s public education sector to be lost. The priority is to secure every legitimate Central grant and utilise it for strengthening government schools,” Shamsudheen said.

Former Education Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader V. Sivankutty, who was part of the signing on hearing the Minister’s statement in the Assembly, accused the Muslim League and the Congress party of implementing a scheme that the previous Left government had frozen after identifying potential risks to the state’s educational autonomy.

–IANS

sg/dpb