V Sivankutty Welcomes Narendra Modi to "Developed Nemom", Seeks Answer on ₹1,500 Crore SSK Dues

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister V Sivankutty has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to what he described as a "developed Nemom" ahead of the Prime Minister's visit to Kerala, while also demanding an explanation on the Centre's failure to release Rs 1,500 crore in pending dues owed to the Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK).

In a Facebook post, Sivankutty said the Prime Minister's roadshow through the Nemom constituency would afford him a firsthand view of the development undertaken in the area under the LDf government.

The minister enumerated a series of infrastructure projects along the roadshow route. At Killippalam, he pointed to the newly established Chala ITI, a project worth Rs 18 crore, and the SSK State Office — built by the state government despite the Centre withholding funds — located nearby. Turning in the other direction, the Deputy Director of Education's office and a multi-storey complex housing the SCERT Kerala office are visible, he noted.

Further along the route, Sivankutty highlighted the construction of a new building for Chala School at a cost of Rs 4.80 crore, median beautification and new street lighting on the stretch from Karamana Junction to Pravachambalam worth Rs 5 crore, and a multi-storey building at SSLPS constructed at Rs 1.60 crore. He also drew attention to a modernly built colour pavilion at HSLPS, a re-tarred and upgraded road from Kalpalayam at a cost of Rs 8 crore, and the Sthanu Padmanabhan Career Development Centre built at Rs 6 crore.

Among the other projects listed were a multi-storey building under construction at Karamana Boys High School at Rs 5 crore, renovation works worth Rs 1.30 crore at Karamana Girls High School along with ground upgrades costing Rs 58 lakh, the Azhangal Walkway built at Rs 16 crore, multi-storey buildings under construction at the Women's Polytechnic worth Rs 12 crore, the Pappanamcode District Skill Development Centre at Rs 70 lakh, development works on Vishwambharan Road at Rs 13 crore, an HSLPS multi-storey building at Rs 2 crore, and a multi-storey block at the high school on the left side of the route constructed at Rs 3.40 crore.

Alongside the welcome, the minister also pressed the Prime Minister to explain the non-release of Rs 1,500 crore in dues owed to SSK. "This money is meant as assistance for children from poor and marginalised communities. It is the state of Kerala that is currently bearing the salary burden of nearly 7,000 teaching and non-teaching staff employed under SSK," Sivankutty wrote, urging the Prime Minister to respond.

Concluding the post on a cordial note, the minister thanked the Prime Minister for visiting Nemom and extended a warm welcome once again.