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The decision regarding PM-SHRI remains pending in Kerala.
The government has not yet made a final decision regarding the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme in Kerala. Education Minister N. Shamsuddin said the UDF leadership would soon discuss the issue and then take a decision on whether to adopt the scheme or not. This statement comes at a time when the Central Government has asked Kerala to give its final stand on the scheme.
PM-SHRI is a flagship education scheme of the Centre, which aims to develop government schools as model schools by equipping them with modern facilities. Under the scheme, a target has been set to upgrade more than 14,500 schools across the country.
However, in Kerala the matter is not limited to administrative decisions only. There have been policy differences between the Centre and the State regarding the scheme and different opinions have also emerged within the UDF. For this reason, the role of political deliberations in the final decision has increased.
A final decision will be made after discussions with the UDF leadership.
According to Education Minister N. Shamsuddin, there will be discussion within the UDF regarding PM-SHRI. Only after this will the government decide its final stance. That is, at present the decision to implement the scheme is linked to the deliberations of the political leadership of the alliance rather than taking it forward immediately at the administrative level.
The minister has already said that a decision will be taken after examining various aspects related to the scheme and discussing with experts. He had also questioned the Centre’s attachment of conditions while releasing funds to states, citing the federal structure.
Now, as pressure from the Centre to state its final stand increases, discussions within the UDF have become crucial. The state government can start the further process only after the consent of the alliance.
What benefits can schools get from PM-SHRI?
The main objective of PM-SHRI scheme is to develop modern education and better infrastructure facilities in selected government schools. Under the Central Government’s plan, schools are to be developed as model institutions, where emphasis will be laid on modern infrastructure and new education methods.
An important aspect of the scheme for a state like Kerala is central financial assistance. This can support the development of buildings, laboratories, technical facilities and other educational resources in eligible government schools.
This is why supporters of the scheme are linking it with the modernization of schools. At the same time, the opposing parties are concerned about the policy direction of the scheme and the conditions associated with it.
Differences regarding the NEP have surfaced before.
The controversy surrounding PM-SHRI in Kerala is not new. The previous LDF government had reached an agreement with the Centre, but the implementation of the scheme was later stalled following opposition within the coalition. CPI had raised objection by linking the scheme with the National Education Policy i.e. NEP.
The Congress-led UDF, which was in the opposition at that time, had also criticized the PM-SHRI agreement of the LDF government. Now that it is in power, the UDF government faces the challenge of taking a clear stand on the scheme.
This political background makes the current decision important. The government has to consider the potential resources available for schools on the one hand, and on the other hand, it has to take into account the concerns about the plan within the coalition.
Coalition politics has become a major criterion for the decision.
The discussion within the UDF on PM-SHRI demonstrates that this education-related decision is now also linked to coalition politics. According to reports, some constituents of the alliance, including the IUML, have had reservations about the plan, while its potential benefits are also being considered within the government.
In such a situation, the government faces the challenge of maintaining balance. On the one hand, there is the issue of central assistance and modernisation of schools, while on the other hand, there are political concerns about the terms and policy implications of the scheme.
At present, all eyes are on the UDF leadership meeting and the discussions taking place there. Only after the final decision will it be clear whether Kerala accepts PM-SHRI or continues with its separate policy regarding the scheme.
Did political caution slow down the pace of the plan?
The ongoing debate on the decision on PM-SHRI certainly raises the question whether the process of the scheme has slowed down due to political differences. The Centre has already asked the state to convey its final stand, while the state government is talking about taking a decision after discussions within the coalition.
However, attributing the delay solely to political reasons cannot be presented as a blanket conclusion. The government has also said that review of various aspects of the scheme, consultation with experts and questions related to Centre-State relations are also part of the decision-making process.
The real question then is how the government balances the need for modernisation of schools with the policy concerns associated with the scheme. The longer the decision drags on, the more political pressure on this debate may increase.
All eyes are now on the UDF’s decision.
The next step regarding PM-SHRI in Kerala is expected to be clear only after discussions with the UDF leadership. After the statement of the Education Minister and the Centre seeking its final stand, the government seems to have less scope to postpone the decision than before.
The question of possible central assistance and modern facilities for schools is important in the entire matter. Also, it will be necessary for the Kerala government to clarify its stand regarding the terms of the Central scheme and the state’s education policy.
Now only the decision that comes out after the UDF meeting will tell whether Kerala moves forward towards implementing PM-SHRI or keeps distance from it for the time being due to political and policy differences.
