CPI State executive weighs the ‘pros and cons’ of signing up for the NEP-linked PM-SHRI scheme

On Wednesday, the Communist Party of India (CPI) State executive reportedly weighed the political “pros and cons” of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s “bid” to secure the PM-SHRI’s sizeable allocation for school education by signing on to a scheme, which the ruling front ally views as inextricably tied to the Centre’s “anti-federal and reactionary” National Education Policy (NEP).

A CPI insider said the executive felt the LDF should be wary of rising to the Centre’s “NEP bait”.

He stated that committing to PM-SHRI would implicitly signal adherence to the NEP, which infringed on federalism and, at a stroke, negated cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversities by seeking to centralise school education.

“It is inaccurate to compare PM-SHRI with comparable federal allocations for Health and Agriculture, which also come with specific conditions that seek to advantage the disposition at the Centre politically,” he added.

Notably, CPI Ministers met Mr. Viswam at the latter’s residence hours before Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, kindling political intrigue. However, a party insider termed the “pre-Cabinet” meeting “routine”.

Moreover, neither the CPI nor the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) would confirm media reports citing anonymous sources that the party’s Ministers had conveyed their “uneasiness” about PM-SHRI at the Cabinet meeting and later in person to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Official sources said that it was usual for Ministers to meet Mr. Vijayan after cabinet meetings, and there was no cause to read any adverse political meanings into such customary interactions.

‘No disunity’

Meanwhile, the CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam sought to dispel the perception that the party’s apprehensions about PMI-SHRI sign-up signalled ideological and political disunity in the LDF in the crucial election year.

Mr. Viswam told reporters that the CPI and the CPI(M) were on the same page concerning their shared informed political opposition to the NEP. “CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby has stated the same,” he said.

(On Tuesday, Mr. Baby had stressed that the government should engage with the Centre on PM-SHRI funds without compromising on the NEP.)

Mr. Viswam stressed that the implementation of the “anti-federal NEP” was the “central pillar” of the PM-SHRI scheme, and that there was no middle way. He had also questioned the wisdom of signing on for PM-SHRI, which was set to expire in 2027.

Mr. Viswam noted that the PM-SHRI had no retrospective effect and any fund allocations were linked to States submitting utilisation certificates, and Kerala would receive only a negligible amount.