PM Shri 'delay' proves beneficial; Central govt releases Rs 92.4 crore SSK fund to Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The delay by the Kerala government to issue a letter to freeze the PM Shri scheme proved beneficial. This led to the Centre sanctioning Rs 109 crore as SSK (Samagra Shiksha Kerala) allocation. Out of this, Rs 92.4 crore was received on Tuesday.

The Union Education Ministry announced that the remaining Rs 17.6 crore will be released this week itself. This fund was previously withheld due to the government's failure to sign the PM Shri scheme. The Centre had assured the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the SSK fund would be released to Kerala.

Last week, an agreement was reached with the CPI to inform the central government that, despite signing the PM Shri scheme, it would not be implemented for the time being.

Minister V. Sivankutty clarified that the letter prepared in the Chief Secretary's office has been received by the office of General Education Secretary K. Vasuki. After the Advocate General's inspection, the department secretary himself will send the letter to the Centre.

The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the funds will be transferred soon while considering the petitions related to the permanent appointment of special educators in the state, which are part of the SSK.

A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Dutta and Augustine George Masih considered the petitions of special educators who teach differently-abled students. More than 2800 people work on a contractual basis in the state. The Supreme Court had directed that those who are eligible should be given permanent appointments.

However, the petitioners complained of the order being ignored. Pointing out the financial burden of giving permanent appointments to so many people, the state government said that the centre was not providing any assistance to meet the additional burden. The court then sought the centre's position and assured that funds would be allocated.

The court directed Kerala to expedite the process of permanent appointments of special educators. An affidavit in this regard should be submitted by January 31, 2026. SSK sources said that the amount allocated by the Centre will be used for the needs of differently-abled children and for one month's salary of special educators. A share of the state's expenditure on books and uniforms will also be paid from this.