Politics · India Bureau
Kerala CM accused of facilitating PM-SHRI scheme through 'backdoor' channels
Opposition leaders have alleged that Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is pushing implementation of the Prime Minister's Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme in ways that favour right-wing organizations. The accusations come as the state grapples with concerns over the educational initiative's rollout.
LSN India ·
State opposition figures have leveled charges that Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is circumventing standard procedures to facilitate the implementation of the PM-SHRI scheme in the state. Indian National League (INL) State President Ahammad Devarkovil and General Secretary Kasim Irikkur have alleged that the Chief Minister is employing unconventional channels to expedite the programme's introduction.
The opposition leaders contend that Satheesan's approach to implementing the Central government's school development initiative is calculated to benefit the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), rather than serving the broader interests of Kerala's education system. The accusations underscore growing political tensions surrounding the Centre's educational policies in the state.
The PM-SHRI scheme, a flagship initiative aimed at establishing exemplary schools across India, has been a focus of scrutiny in Kerala, where educational matters remain deeply politicized. The state's ruling coalition and opposition parties have diverged sharply on the Centre's role in shaping school education policy.
The allegations reflect broader concerns among certain political quarters about the ideological dimensions of centrally-sponsored educational programmes and their potential impact on Kerala's secular, progressive education tradition. The controversy is likely to intensify as the state continues to debate the implementation framework for the scheme.