The Kerala government has registered for the Union government's PM SHRI scheme, aiming to secure an estimated ₹1,446 crore for the modernization of government schools across the state.
This decision has met with opposition from the Communist Party of India (CPI), a key ally within the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam stated that the government's action was taken without consulting the LDF, characterizing it as a violation of coalition ethics.
The CPI views the PM SHRI scheme as intrinsically linked to the National Education Policy (NEP), which the party has previously described as "anti-federal" and "reactionary." According to CPI sources, the party's ministers had conveyed their apprehensions regarding participation in the scheme. However, CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby reportedly sought to address these concerns by reassuring the CPI that the government would engage with the Centre for PM SHRI funds without compromising on the NEP.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-government-signs-up-for-pm-shri-funds-amidst-cpi-opposition/article70195254.ece