Punjab stands to lose Rs 180 crore under Samagra Shiksha plan
Punjab stands to lose around Rs 180 crore out of the pending amount of Rs 350 crore from the Centre under the Samagra Shiksha programme for the year 2023-24.
The state government had not agreed to implement the ambitious PM SHRI programme, so the school education funds amounting to at least Rs 515.55 crore meant for Samagra Shiksha scheme were withheld by the Centre for the two quarters of the previous financial year (2023-24) and one instalment of the current year.
In July this year, the state government agreed to implement the scheme, following which the Centre’s share of Rs 177.19 crore was credited to the state Education Department’s account for the year 2024-25. There was, however, no reply from the Centre regarding the pending amount of Rs 350 crore for two instalments of the financial year 2023-24. A senior official said it would not be easy to get this amount because the funds earmarked in last year’s Budget had lapsed.
Talking to The Tribune, Secretary (Higher Education) KK Yadav said, “Out of the pending amount of about Rs 350 crore, the department has initiated the process for getting Rs 170 crore. We have initiated certain important projects and kept the project approval board in the loop right since the commencement of the process.”
On the remaining amount of about Rs 180 crore, Yadav said, “Our minister will pursue the matter with the Ministry of Education and we are sure that we will be given our share.”
Samagra Shiksha, the Centre’s flagship programme for school education, covers basic expenses of government schools from pre-school to Class XII in the 60:40 ratio with the state governments. The expenditure includes salaries of teachers, construction of new classrooms, expenses over uniforms and books, etc.
Punjab had initially confirmed its participation in the PM SHRI scheme by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Education Ministry. Later, however, Punjab, Kerala, Delhi and West Bengal — all with non-BJP governments — opted out.
Punjab will get 341 model schools under the PM SHRI scheme. At least 5,300 government schools are participating in the “Open Challenge” for selection in the programme. Yadav said this category of schools would be separate from the ones under the state’s Schools of Eminence, Schools of Brilliance and Schools of Happiness.
