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In the past year, the Centre has withheld funds from the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in five states governed by the Opposition — Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, West Bengal, and Delhi. This action seems to be more about the Centre’s promotion of the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) initiative, designed to create “exemplar model schools,” rather than any issues with the SSA itself.
The Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan IS the largest central government programme dedicated to universal school education.
The PM SHRI programme has seen several states and Union Territories (UTs) signing compulsory Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the union Ministry of Education. The scheme aims to enhance 14,500 schools, benefitting 1.8 million students, and to ensure these schools serve as model institutions reflecting the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
In the scheme’s first phase, 6,448 schools from 28 states and UTs were chosen for upgrades. The PM SHRI programme has a financial provision exceeding Rs 27,000 crore over the next five years. The fund distribution for this programme is set at a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and the states, except for the North-Eastern states where 90% of the funds come from the Centre.
Opposition-led states have largely declined to sign the MoU for the PM SHRI scheme, leading to reported delays in teacher salaries and impacting students enrolled under the Right to Education as their fee depends on SSA funds. Many of these states have asserted that they are already implementing their own schemes that align with the NEP.
By withholding these funds, the Centre has effectively penalised states that are fulfilling the SSA’s major objectives, including addressing social and gender disparities, ensuring equitable and inclusive education, promoting vocational training, providing necessary school facilities, and enhancing teacher training.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin took to X today to once again highlight the issue. “Denying funds to the best-performing states for refusing to bow to the #NEP, while generously rewarding those who are not delivering on the objectives – Is this how the Union BJP Government plans to promote quality education and equity? I leave it to the wisdom of our nation and our people to decide!” the DMK chief wrote on X.
The Centre has withheld the initial instalment of Rs 573 crore allocated under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to Tamil Nadu due to the state’s refusal to accept certain provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP). Tamil Nadu is particularly opposed to the three-language formula included in the PM SHRI scheme. For the 2024-2025 period, the project approval board has earmarked Rs 3,586 crore under SSA for Tamil Nadu. Of this amount, the Centre’s contribution is Rs 2,152 crore (60%), while the state’s share is Rs 1,434 crore (40%). The Union government is scheduled to release its share in four instalments. The first instalment for 2024-25 was due in June.
Last month, Chief Minister MK Stalin reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the swift release of the pending grants under the SSA. Stalin said, “Education should not be held hostage to unresolved policy differences.”
Stalin accused the Centre of attempting to link the release of funds under the SSA to the implementation of the NEP. He argued that this linkage “undermines the state’s right” on a subject under the concurrent list and has a severe impact on the education of millions of disadvantaged children. “It is well known that Tamil Nadu has significant reservations about specific provisions in the NEP 2020. The request to make a minimal modification to the MoU to align it with PM SHRI schools has not yet been accepted,” Stalin stated.
AIADMK general secretary and Stalin’s political rival, Edappadi K Palaniswami, also criticised the Centre for its failure to release SSA funds to Tamil Nadu. Palaniswami accused the Centre of attempting to undermine human resources by imposing its policies on the education sector.
He said, “It is the duty of the Union government to support the educational development of states. Funds that can only be released based on conditions are unacceptable.”
He expressed concerns over reports that 15,000 teachers have been deprived of their salaries due to the Centre’s withholding of the first instalment under the scheme. Palaniswami further alleged that the DMK, which has a significant number of MPs, was staging a drama similar to the NEET situation instead of working to restore education to the state list.
The Centre has yet to respond to Tamil Nadu’s letters and reminders regarding the release of funds. The delay is expected to affect various aspects of the SSA, including fee reimbursements for students enrolled in the 25% quota under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, transport and escort facilities for children in remote areas, teacher training, and self-defence training for girls in Classes 6 to 12.
An official noted that the SSA scheme has been running in recent months with funds from the Tamil Nadu government. However, it will be challenging to continue without the Centre’s contribution.
During review meetings in July in New Delhi, it was highlighted that the MoU for establishing PM SHRI schools must be signed to release the funds. “The Tamil Nadu government has sent the MoU to the Union Ministry of Education for approval, excluding the provision that mandates adherence to the NEP guidelines for PM SHRI schools. This request has been declined,” the official added.
Tamil Nadu has adhered to a two-language formula following the anti-Hindi agitation in 1965. The state government formed a panel headed by Justice D Murugesan, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, to develop the State Education Policy (SEP). The SEP panel’s recommendations included rejecting the three-language formula and retaining the existing 10+2 curricular structure, while opposing common exams for Classes 3, 5, and 8.
