Centre Halts Uniform Funds for BPL Students; Kerala Government Steps In

Thiruvananthapuram: In a glaring instance of the Centre undermining the federal structure, the Union government has blocked crucial funds meant for providing free school uniforms to children from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. This has thrown the uniform distribution program into uncertainty, but the Kerala government is actively stepping in to address the crisis, said State Education Minister V Sivankutty.
According to the minister, the Centre withheld 1500.27 crore rupees due to Kerala’s refusal to implement the centrally-sponsored PM SHRI scheme. As a result, the Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) program, which previously facilitated the uniform distribution through BRCs (Block Resource Centres), has been left stranded without funds since the 2023–24 academic year.
The affected children include all girls from classes 1 to 8 studying in government high schools and higher secondary schools, as well as all BPL, SC, and ST boys. These students are entitled to two sets of free uniforms annually, a commitment now endangered by the Centre's politically motivated financial blockade.
Despite the Centre’s neglect, the Kerala government continues to uphold its welfare responsibilities. Through the Department of Handlooms and the General Education Department, it is distributing uniforms to nearly 10 lakh students studying in LP and UP government schools and aided schools from classes 1 to 4. This effort remains unaffected and is progressing smoothly.
In addition, the General Education Department has consistently provided funds for two sets of free uniforms to APL -category boys in classes 1 to 8 in government high schools and higher secondary schools, as well as to all students in aided schools. Minister Sivankutty also confirmed that administrative sanction has already been granted for 80.34 crore rupees for the 2025–26 academic year.
The Centre's discriminatory denial of funds, based on political vendetta rather than student welfare, is not only punitive but a direct attack on the spirit of cooperative federalism. Kerala, however, stands resilient. While New Delhi uses financial chokeholds to arm-twist states into submission, Kerala has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education and equitable welfare, setting an example for the rest of the country.