Kerala Asks Centre to Suspend PM SHRI Scheme Amid Party Disagreement

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The Kerala government has written to the Union Ministry of Education, requesting a halt to the PM SHRI scheme, amid strong disagreements within the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). The decision comes after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on October 29 that a cabinet sub-committee would review the scheme. A formal letter to the Centre follows weeks of internal debate, sparked by the Communist Party of India's (CPI) concerns that the scheme would lead to the saffronisation of education through the 2020 National Education Policy (NEP). The CPI had also expressed discontent over the delay in informing the Union government about the decision. While some parties within the LDF argue that the state cannot afford to turn down the funding opportunities under the PM SHRI and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) schemes, others have raised concerns about the potential impact on the state's education system. The CPI has welcomed the Kerala government's decision, saying it is a success for those who object to the 'infiltration of the RSS' in the education sector. The cabinet sub-committee will now review the scheme and submit a report, with the Kerala government aiming to secure the funds it is entitled to.