PM SHRI: Kerala government plans to move ahead with conditions

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite opposition from organisations including the Muslim League and Samastha, the Kerala government is planning to move ahead with the PM SHRI scheme by seeking consensus within the UDF and placing conditions before the Centre. Education Minister N. Shamsudheen’s statement that the final decision on the issue rests with the Chief Minister further indicates the government’s approach.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan’s remarks at a meeting of KPCC office-bearers that the government cannot withdraw from the agreement once it has been signed also point to the direction in which the government is moving. Satheesan also made it clear that the UDF’s electoral victory was not solely due to its opposition to PM SHRI.

The government is expected to receive the report of the four-member Cabinet sub-committee soon and proceed with further steps. The other UDF constituent parties, except the Muslim League, are of the view that the state should not lose funds it is entitled to receive from the Centre. Although the League leadership and its ministers are taking a pragmatic view of the issue, the opposition from its cadre and affiliated organisations cannot be ignored.

The letter sent by the Union Education Secretary to the state government reportedly calls for Kerala to continue with the PM SHRI scheme. The Centre is keen to implement the scheme before March 2027. Meanwhile, the Kozhikode district conference of the Youth League passed a resolution opposing PM SHRI. The resolution said the position taken by the UDF while in the Opposition should not be changed after coming to power.

Congress national leadership opposes scheme

AICC general secretary in charge of organisational affairs K.C. Venugopal and AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunsi are in favour of withdrawing from the scheme. However, the fact that Congress-ruled Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh have implemented the scheme is being seen as a point in Kerala’s favour. The state government is expected to try to convince the national leadership to support its position by explaining the conditions it intends to put forward for implementing PM SHRI in Kerala.