Kerala Will Join PM SHRI Scheme To Claim Central Funds, State Policy Remains Intact

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala will join the Prime Minister Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme to access pending central funds, Education Minister V. Sivankutty said on Sunday, emphasizing that the decision will not alter the state’s educational policy.
Speaking to a television channel, the minister highlighted that every state has the right to receive central support, and Kerala is no exception. “There is already a pending amount of Rs 1,466 crore due to the state for various educational programmes. The children of Kerala deserve these funds,” he said.
Sivankutty emphasized that the state will continue to follow its existing educational policy, and receiving central funds will not compel Kerala to make any changes against its priorities.
The minister pointed out that various other departments, including health, higher education, and agriculture, have already accepted central funds while maintaining their policies. He also recalled how Kerala had prepared alternative textbooks when the NCERT attempted to present a distorted version of history, underlining the state’s commitment to independent educational content.