BJP Kerala President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Sunday said that the LDF government’s decision to implement the PM SHRI (PM’s Schools for Rising India) scheme in the state was a case of “belated wisdom.”
Speaking to the media here, Chandrasekhar said the CPM and the Pinarayi Vijayan government should apologise for depriving thousands of students in Kerala of the benefits provided under the central scheme for so long.
“It has been the CPM’s practice to initially oppose all good initiatives and later claim credit for them,” he said. “The state government should explain why it caused the loss of a modern education system worth ₹672 crore that could have benefited students in Kerala two years ago.”
Welcoming the LDF government’s decision to finally join the scheme, Chandrasekhar said, “The move to end political drama and become part of the PM SHRI scheme is welcome. However, the government and Education Minister V. Sivankutty must clarify why they allowed students to lose out on modern education infrastructure worth crores by turning a blind eye for two years.”
After much hesitation, the LDF government in Kerala has now decided to join the PM SHRI scheme for state schools, setting aside objections from its ally, the CPI.
Kerala General Education Minister V. Sivankutty on Sunday said that the state has informed the Union government and directed officials to sign the agreement, noting that this step was necessary to access ₹1,500 crore in pending central funds for education projects. He added that joining the Union government’s scheme was a “practical decision” to obtain due funds and would not alter Kerala’s existing education policy.