Protests and pushbacks: Opposition-ruled states challenge govt’s PM-SHRI program, question funding practices

Non-NDA (National Democratic Alliance) states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal, have raised strong opposition to the union government’s PM-Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) program during the ongoing parliamentary discussions on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The primary reason for the opposition is the lack of funding for Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a broader educational program aimed at providing high-quality education nationwide.

These states have accused the government of using funds as leverage to force the implementation of the PM-SHRI program.

The current parliamentary budget session has focused heavily on the education sector.

In response to the implementation of the NEP and the introduction of PM-SHRI in their states, the ruling DMK party in Tamil Nadu has organized protests and walkouts.

In March 2024, Tamil Nadu initially agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government, signaling its intention to participate in the PM-SHRI program.

The state sought the release of the second tranche of funds for the fiscal year 2023-24 and confirmed in a letter to the Department of School Education that it would sign the MoU before the start of the academic year 2024-25.

However, in February, the education minister of Tamil Nadu revealed that the state had yet to receive ₹249 crore for the fiscal year 2023–2024 and ₹2,400 crore in SSA funding for the 2024–2025 academic year.

Shortly thereafter, Tamil Nadu proposed revising the MoU by removing the "PM" prefix from the program.

The government rejected this request, arguing that SSA funding is intended to support PM-SHRI and other educational components, and cannot be disbursed unless all program elements are implemented.

Tamil Nadu's proposal to receive SSA payments excluding the PM-SHRI share was also declined.

Kerala also indicated in a letter dated March 30, 2024, that it was prepared to sign the MoU after the government withheld funds for the 2023–24 fiscal year, despite earlier promises.

In its letter, Kerala requested the release of 37.5% of the annual budget. Due to technical difficulties, the funds were withheld even after Kerala agreed to sign the MoU.

Concerned about potential conflicts between PM-SHRI and the state’s public education policy, the Kerala state education committee reexamined the MoU due to this delay.

The implementation of PM-SHRI raised concerns that it might impose a new curriculum on Kerala schools, potentially conflicting with the current one.

Both Kerala and Tamil Nadu view the withholding of SSA funds—jointly supported by the states and the Center—as an attempt to coerce them into agreeing to the PM-SHRI program.

The national and state governments jointly operate SSA, a vital initiative that aims to achieve the goals of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

The government provides 60% of the funding for this program, which covers infrastructure, teacher salaries, and other essential costs for running state schools.

However, many opposition-ruled states are concerned about the integration of PM-SHRI under SSA, believing they are being forced to accept the government’s educational mission.

The union government and West Bengal, led by Mamata Banerjee, have also clashed over the NEP and the implementation of PM-SHRI.

Despite repeated reminders from the government, West Bengal has entirely refused to implement the scheme.

On March 10, 2024, Sukanta Majumdar, the Minister of State (MoS) for Education, said that West Bengal had declined to sign the MoU despite multiple requests.

After West Bengal, Punjab, and Delhi initially refused to implement PM-SHRI, the government withheld funds.

Punjab and Delhi eventually signed the MoU under financial pressure, but West Bengal continues to resist.

The PM-SHRI program, introduced in the 2022 Union Budget, aims to establish 14,500 model schools across India, which will serve as role models for other schools in every district.

Opposition-ruled states strongly oppose the inclusion of the scheme in SSA, which seeks to implement the key goals of NEP 2020.

These states argue that the program represents a top-down imposition that forces them to adhere to a centralized educational framework that may not align with their local laws.

SSA was created by the BJP government in 2018 and was aligned with NEP in 2021. However, tensions have risen between the government and several state governments following the 2022 rollout of the PM-SHRI scheme and its incorporation into SSA.

While the PM-SHRI program aims to raise educational standards, states are concerned about its impact on their educational systems, leading to disagreements about its implementation.

The ongoing disputes highlight the complex relationship between the government's push for uniformity in the nation’s education system and state sovereignty over educational matters.