The central government has sanctioned ₹109 crore for Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK), marking the release of long-overdue central funding for the state’s education sector. According to the Union Education Ministry, Kerala received ₹92.4 crore, with the remaining ₹17.6 crore expected to follow within the week.
The release of the money comes after the Centre assured the Supreme Court that the previously withheld SSK funds would be disbursed to Kerala. The delay in payment was attributed to the state’s initial refusal to sign up for the PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India) scheme.
Last week, the state government reached an accord with the CPI — a key ally in the LDF coalition — to inform the Centre that while Kerala would sign the PM SHRI memorandum, it would not implement the scheme for the time being.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Education Minister V Sivankutty confirmed that the money represented the first instalment of the central allocation that had been pending for an extended period. He said: "This fund, provided under the Right to Education Act, is intended to support children’s enrolment and educational development. The non-recurring fund for infrastructure purposes, around ₹17 crore, will reach us this week."
The Minister added that the central government still owes Kerala a total of ₹1,148 crore under various headings from the 2023–24 financial year onwards. This includes arrears of ₹188.58 crore for 2023–24, ₹513.14 crore for 2024–25, and ₹486.1 crore for 2025–26.
"We anticipate these arrears, including the outstanding SSK dues, will be cleared soon," he said.
Sivankutty is scheduled to meet Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Delhi on November 10th to discuss the matter. "Though he is currently in Bihar on election duty, he has agreed to meet me in Delhi on the 10th. I will travel to Delhi on the 9th," he confirmed.
The Supreme Court recently heard a case concerning special education, during which both the Centre and the Court gave assurances that Kerala’s SSK funds — specifically those earmarked for the education of differently-abled children — would be paid without delay. Following the Rehabilitation Council of India’s guidelines, one special educator is required for every 10 children in classes 1 to 5, and for every 15 students in higher classes. Given that many schools in Kerala have smaller student numbers, the government plans to group several schools into single units to put the policy into effect.
"This would necessitate over 4,000 teachers across the state. The matter directly impacts nearly 45 lakh students in Kerala’s public schools," Sivankutty noted, adding that the state has been covering even the Centre’s share of expenses because of the funding delays. "The state will pursue this matter at all levels to guarantee Kerala receives its rightful share," he concluded. Following the most recent Cabinet meeting, the government issued an order establishing a subcommittee to review issues related to the PM SHRI scheme. Meanwhile, CPM state secretary MV Govindan admitted on Tuesday that there had been a "lapse" in failing to discuss the PM SHRI memorandum in the Cabinet or within the LDF before the document was signed.
Also read: 28,300 pink ration cards issued in Kerala; poverty far from over?
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