​Federalism and funds, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• Kerala initially agreed to the PM SHRI scheme, designed to upgrade 14,500 schools nationwide per the NEP-2020.
• Kerala, along with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, had previously opposed the NEP-2020, citing concerns over federal overreach and biased content.
• The agreement is now suspended due to internal strife within Kerala's Left Democratic Front (LDF), specifically regarding Cabinet approval.
• The central government has been accused of withholding funds under the Samagra Shiksha (SS) scheme to pressure states into adopting NEP-2020.

Detailed Insights:

• Kerala's education system already boasts high enrolment, retention rates, and superior learning outcomes, making many NEP-2020 targets redundant.
• The CPI(M) initially defended the decision to enroll in PM SHRI to access federal funds under the SS scheme, which were withheld, leading to salary arrears.
• Kerala fears that PM SHRI will force compliance with NEP-2020 provisions, including the integration of 'Indian Knowledge Systems', viewed by some as pseudoscience.
• The article suggests Kerala should consider litigation, similar to Tamil Nadu's approach, to secure its share of central funds and protect state autonomy.
• The judiciary is urged to defend cooperative federalism against actions that undermine it, such as withholding funds to enforce policy adoption.

Key Concepts Involved:

• NEP-2020: A national education policy seeking to overhaul the education system in India.
• PM SHRI Scheme: A central government scheme to upgrade existing schools into model institutions.
• Samagra Shiksha (SS) Scheme: A centrally sponsored scheme for school education.
• Cooperative Federalism: The concept of collaboration between the Centre and States.