States will have to abide by terms of Samagra Shiksha to receive funds: Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reiterated the Centre’s position that all States will have to abide by conditions laid under the Samagara Shiksha to receive funds. 

Answering a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas asking for reasons for withholding/delay in releasing the central share, Mr. Pradhan in a written reply said that “The release of central share depends on the submission of the utilisation certificates, audit reports in respect of funds released earlier, physical and financial progress reports, State contributions and compliance with the scheme norms.” 

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During the Question Hour, Mr. Brittas, cited dues worth ₹1,160.52 crores since 2022-23 under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. The scheme was launched in 2018 while the National Education Policy was launched in 2020 and the PM-Shri in 2022 He asked if the States were being compelled to accept the 2020 Scheme or 2022 scheme as a condition for receiving funds under a 2018 scheme and termed it “arm-twisting”. 

Mr. Pradhan responding to him accused Mr. Brittas of “misleading” the House and said it was not a partisan policy. He said non-BJP ruled States like Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab and Telangana were getting funds under the scheme. He said that the government was ready to release all pending dues, subject to fulfillment of the conditions of implementation of the National Education Policy.

In a supplementary question Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s R. Girirajan asked Mr. Pradhan on when the Centre plans to release Tamil Nadu’s dues. The Minister did not directly respond to the question, he instead pointed to the Supreme Court’s recent observations in response to a Public Interest Litigation, urging the Union government and the Tamil Nadu government to have talks on the issue of establishing Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in the State.

“Tamil Nadu can’t put conditions, saying this much we will implement, this much we will not implement.” he said.