Centre's Withholding SSA Fund Allocation To Tamil Nadu Will Impact Education

The Union Education Ministry has put the first installment of Rs 573 crore under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to Tamil Nadu on hold, for not accepting provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP). The first installment was to be delivered in June but the central government reportedly, has not responded to the letters and reminders from Tamil Nadu about the release of funds.

The project approval board has allocated a total of Rs 3,586 crore under SSA to the state for the academic session 2024-25. Out of the total amount the centre and state share is 60:40 which means the central government has to provide 2,152 crores and the state government has to give Rs 1,434 crores.

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With no funds available under the scheme, this may impact the teachers and students in various ways. About 15,000 teachers including block resource teachers educators (BRTEs), part-time teachers, and special teachers may not receive their next month’s salaries. Students are also likely to be impacted as those enrolled under the 25% quota under the RTE Act will not get reimbursement of fees, transport facilities to children in remote areas, teachers training, and self-defense training for girls studying in classes 6th to 12th will also get affected.

As per the reports, the SSA scheme was so far running under the state fund but after the lack of fund due to withholding of allocation by the centre will impact the educational services under the scheme.

Reportedly, the review meeting held in July in New Delhi emphasised that funds will be released after the MoU is signed for the establishment of PM-SHRI schools. However, Tamil Nadu government has sent the MoU letter to the education ministry for approval but exclude the mandatory adherence to the NEP guidelines in PM-SHRI schools.

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Tamil Nadu has not accepted provisions such as the three-language formula in the PM Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) Scheme as it has been following a two language formula for more than five decades. This request of Tamil Nadu has been declined by the ministry.

Some other states including Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi and Punjab are also yet to sign the MoU for PM-SHRI schools.