Kerala to Petition PM Modi on Withheld SSK Funds: Minister

Swift Summary

• Kerala government plans to submit a representation to Prime Minister narendra Modi regarding the withholding of Union government funds under the Centrally-sponsored Samagra Shiksha abhiyan scheme.
• General Education Minister V. Sivankutty announced this during a press conference held on September 8, 2025.
• The funds amounting to ₹1,148 crore, including arrears, have not been released to Kerala, while othre states like Uttar Pradesh (₹4,487 crore), Gujarat (₹847 crore), and Jharkhand (₹1,073 crore) have received allocations under the scheme.
• Minister Sivankutty termed this denial of funds as discriminatory and contrary to federal principles,citing challenges for Kerala’s education sector due to lack of Central support.
• In response, Kerala is bearing expenses for 6,800 Samagra Shiksha staff salaries (₹20 crore per month), along with costs for uniforms, textbooks, and hostels in absence of Central funding.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The disparity in fund allocation reported by Kerala raises questions about equitable distribution under Centrally-sponsored schemes like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan-a program aimed at improving school education across India. While federal systems benefit from shared responsibilities between Center and States it is vital that resource allocation adheres strictly without undermining regional development which faces stress-producing barriers