Politics · India Bureau
Tamil Nadu Congress chief seeks ₹5,109 crore in delayed education funds
TNCC president Manickam Tagore has demanded the release of substantial central education grants withheld over three consecutive fiscal years. The party claims the Union government has deferred critical funding for the state's school education initiatives.
LSN India ·
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore has called on the Union government to immediately release ₹5,109 crore in pending Samagra Shiksha funds allocated for the state's education sector. The funds, which support comprehensive school education programmes, have been withheld across multiple financial years, according to Tagore's statement.
Tagore cited specific figures showing the scale of the funding gap. The Union government had withheld ₹1,788 crore during the 2024-25 fiscal year, followed by ₹1,496 crore in 2025-26, and an additional ₹1,825 crore in the ongoing financial year. The accumulation of these delays has created significant resource constraints for Tamil Nadu's educational institutions.
The Samagra Shiksha initiative, a centrally-sponsored scheme, aims to provide equitable and inclusive education across elementary and secondary schools. The withholding of funds has raised concerns about the state's ability to maintain education quality and meet mandated spending requirements.
The TNCC president's intervention reflects growing scrutiny of the resource transfer mechanisms between the central and state governments. Tamil Nadu, like other opposition-ruled states, has previously raised concerns about disproportionate fund allocations and delayed disbursements from Union government schemes.