Will take action if children are assigned to SIR activities; Minister issues strict instructions

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has once again written to the Centre seeking the immediate release of SSK funds. State Education Minister V. Sivankutty has sent a letter to the Union Education Minister, urging urgent intervention as the Centre has not released the funds for the past two and a half years. Kerala has asked that allocations under the Right to Education Act and funds meant for students with disabilities be provided without delay.

Kerala is entitled to Rs 1,158 crore in SSK funds from the Centre. The arrears for 2023 and 2024 come to Rs 440.87 crore. For 2025–26, the Centre had approved Rs 456 crore, but only the first instalment of Rs 92.41 crore has been released so far, earlier this month. A portion of the withheld funds was released only after Kerala signed the PM SHRI project. The Centre had earlier assured the Supreme Court that eligible funds would be granted.

Minister Sivankutty alleged that state BJP leaders and Union ministers were partly responsible for the delay. He urged them to intervene to ensure Kerala receives its rightful share.

Beyond the SSK fund issue, the minister also took a firm stand against engaging schoolchildren in SIR activities. He said children must not be assigned responsibilities that disrupt their education, nor be used for office work or other programmes. Such practices, he said, cannot be tolerated as they affect learning. He added that he has asked the Thiruvananthapuram District Collector to ensure students are not put under such pressure.

Citing the Right to Education Act, the minister emphasised that students’ learning time must be protected. While organisations like NSS and NCC can support extracurricular and social service activities, using children for office duties or fieldwork during school days, causing continuous loss of classes, is not acceptable, he added.