Thiruvananthapuram, July 30: The United Democratic Front (UDF) on Thursday endorsed the implementation of the Centre’s PM SHRI school development scheme in Kerala, saying the State government has a responsibility to secure and effectively utilise all Central funds available for public welfare, particularly in the education sector.
Addressing reporters after a meeting of the opposition alliance, UDF Convener Adoor Prakash said financial assistance from the Union government should not be viewed as a favour but as the State’s rightful entitlement. He said Kerala should not miss the opportunity to access funds that could significantly improve the quality of public education.
Prakash noted that the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had already entered into an agreement with the Centre regarding the PM SHRI scheme. Given this, he said, it would neither be practical nor appropriate for the present government to withdraw from the arrangement. Instead, the State should proceed with the project and channel the available funds towards strengthening government schools.
Under the PM SHRI initiative, the State government will identify the schools to be included in the programme. The UDF said the focus should be on upgrading infrastructure, improving learning facilities and creating a better academic environment through effective utilisation of Central assistance.
The front also deliberated on the State government’s proposal to impose a tax on low-alcohol beverages. Rather than taking an immediate stand, the UDF constituted a special sub-committee to examine the proposal in detail. The panel will study its financial, social and policy implications before submitting its recommendations to the alliance.
The meeting further resolved to improve coordination among UDF constituents and reinforce the alliance’s role as the principal opposition in Kerala. To facilitate regular policy discussions and coordinated political action, the UDF decided to convene meetings every month, expressing confidence that closer cooperation would help it respond more effectively to key governance and public issues.
