Kerala to Consider Protest in Delhi Over Delayed Education Funds: Minister Sivankutty

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is contemplating a protest in New Delhi to demand its due share of funds under centrally sponsored schemes, General Education Minister V Sivankutty said on Wednesday.

Speaking in a statement, Sivankutty said the General Education Department is 'seriously considering' the protest in view of growing delays in the release of central allocations for major education projects.

Under the Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) programme, the Centre released Rs 92.41 crore in November as the first instalment of the allocation. While the state has already submitted the proposal for the second instalment, the Union Ministry of Education has raised technical objections, further delaying its release.

Sivankutty added that a total of Rs 440 crore is due to Kerala for 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 to implement benefits under the Right to Education Act and support children requiring special assistance.

'Despite submitting the proposal in November, the Centre has clarified that the amount for the current year (2025-26) cannot be given as reimbursement and will only be released along with regular instalment funds,' he said.

The Centre has directed Kerala to upload details of activities completed in 2023-24 and 2024-25 on the PRABANDH portal before a supplementary Project Approval Board meeting can be held to release the pending funds, Sivankutty added. The state has requested that the portal be reopened immediately, and the general education secretary has already discussed the matter with the Union secretary, who assured that it would be reopened within a few days.

Sivankutty criticised the continued delay, emphasising that crucial education funds cannot be withheld on technical grounds. He urged the Centre to release the state’s rightful allocation without further delay and reiterated that a protest in Delhi, under his leadership, is under serious consideration if the issue is not resolved.