Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday said Kerala was already a participant in the Centre’s PM Shri scheme as the previous LDF govt had signed an agreement with the Union govt and received funds under it. The govt has effectively been compelled to continue with the scheme, he said.
Satheesan told reporters after the cabinet meeting that the previous govt had not written to the Centre seeking withdrawal from the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM Shri) scheme. Instead, it has received more than Rs 99 crore under the programme. An additional Rs 106 crore has also been sanctioned, he said.
Former general education minister V Sivankutty, however, said the LDF govt did not receive a single paise under the scheme and it had informed the Centre about its decision to keep the scheme in abeyance. The CPM state secretariat alleged that the UDF govt’s decision not to withdraw from the scheme was part of a “Congress-BJP deal” and accused it of misleading the public about the scheme. The BJP, meanwhile, accused both the LDF and UDF of delaying the scheme for political reasons.
Satheesan said his govt’s position was that the Centre should not interfere with the state’s autonomy in deciding school curricula. The state govt will determine which schools will be included in the scheme. To formulate and communicate the state’s policy position on matters related to the scheme, the cabinet has constituted a ministerial sub-committee, with general education minister N Shamsudheen as convener and ministers Roji M John, P C Vishnunath and M Liju as members, he said.
Satheesan said he had discussed the matter with his counterparts in non-BJP states that have agreed to implement the scheme. The govt is exploring ways to implement the scheme without compromising Kerala’s educational rights. It will also not allow any communal agenda to influence the education sector, he said.
According to Satheesan, several aspects of the National Education Policy (NEP) have already been introduced in the state. The UDF had only opposed the manner in which the LDF govt signed the PM SHRI agreement, he said, alleging that even cabinet members were not fully informed about the decision.
Satheesan said around Rs 1,100 crore was due to the state as its right from taxes collected by the Centre and it was the state’s rightful entitlement and not a favour.
The CM also said the cabinet had decided to appoint integrated financial advisers in all departments to strengthen financial oversight. Officers not below the rank of joint secretary will be appointed as principal financial advisers to department secretaries, with responsibility for monitoring financial matters and ensuring greater fiscal discipline.
He further said the govt’s 100-day action programme would be launched on July 1. He congratulated higher education minister Roji M John and Kunnathunadu MLA V P Sajeendran for helping resolve the land dispute at Pariyathukavu amicably.
