Centre Releases Funds After Delay: Kerala Gets 92 Crore for SSK

Thiruvananthapuram: The Central government has sanctioned 109 crore rupees to Kerala under the Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) programme, releasing the state’s entitled share. Of this, 92.4 crore rupees has already been credited to the state treasury, marking the first instalment for the 2025–26 financial year. The remaining 17.6 crore rupees will be released within the week, according to the Union Ministry of Education.

Kerala is expected to receive a total of 456 crore rupees from the Centre under SSK during the current fiscal year. However, the state is still owed two pending instalments from 2023–24, amounting to 1,158 crore rupees in arrears. SSK Director Dr A R Supriya said the required documents for the pending releases would be submitted by Wednesday.

The scheme operates on a 60:40 funding ratio between the Centre and the state. The funds cover teacher salaries, student uniforms, special education for differently-abled children, and mid-day meals. Owing to delays in Central contributions, the state government had been advancing funds to sustain ongoing projects.

The release follows the Union government’s assurance to the Supreme Court on Tuesday that Kerala’s dues would be cleared promptly. The assurance came after the state highlighted its inability to appoint adequate resource teachers for children needing special attention due to the funding shortfall. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the court that the pending amount would be released without further delay.