SSK schemes hit as impasse over PM SHRI continues

Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) projects remain stalled amid the ongoing impasse over signing the PM SHRI agreement with the Union government, with Education Minister N. Shamsudheen reiterating that there is no change in the United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s position towards PM SHRI.

Speaking here on Tuesday, Mr. Shamsudheen said the government continued to disagree with the conditions attached to the PM SHRI scheme. He said the matter cannot be decided unilaterally and will be discussed within the UDF.

Denying reports that the UDF government would sign the agreement, he said withdrawal from an agreement between two governments would not be easy and would involve technical difficulties. The uncertainties over PM SHRI continue amid conflicting claims over education funding and the status of the agreement. Former Education Minister V. Sivankutty said the State had not received any funds under the PM SHRI scheme.

Mr. Shamsudheen, however, said the State had received Rs. 92 crore. Official sources clarified that the amount was released under the Right to Education (RTE) framework and not under PM SHRI.

The previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had signed the PM SHRI agreement after the Centre linked release of funds for education programmes, including SSK, to the scheme. The agreement was later kept in abeyance following political opposition, particularly from CPI, a constituent of LDF.

The issue has drawn opposition from several parties, including the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and its affiliated organisations. The IUML currently holds the General Education portfolio in the UDF government. SSK implementation has been affected as discussions on the future of the agreement continue. According to sources, one month’s salary remains pending.

Services impacted

Support services under SSK, including those for children with disabilities, assistive devices and escort allowances, have been impacted. Several study centres in tribal areas are also reported to have been affected. The SSK programme, which has around 6,500 staff, and most of them on contract, faces uncertainty over fund flow, raising concerns over their employment security.

Tamil Nadu has taken a different approach by directly challenging the Centre and continuing education schemes independently. Tamil Nadu has taken over the schemes with Central assistance. But Kerala’s fiscal constraints limit similar options for the State and its educational programmes.