Thiruvananthapuram: Amid reports that the Kerala government has decided to freeze all further procedures related to the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, CPI ministers have called off their plan to boycott Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.

Revenue Minister K Rajan, Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil Kumar, Agriculture Minister P Prasad, and Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister J Chinchurani represent the CPI in the state cabinet. It is learnt that they will attend the crucial meeting after the party leadership reached a consensus with the CPM over the implementation of PM SHRI in the state.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPM national secretary and state secretary M V Govindan held talks with CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam at the AKG Centre on Wednesday.

Addressing the media in Delhi, CPI national secretary D Raja confirmed that both parties have reached a mututal understanding on the central scheme. He reiterated that his party already declared its stance on the National Education Policy 2020. The CPI leader added that Chief Minister will give an explantion over the decision. 

As per reports, the Chief Minister has directed the Education Department to freeze procedures, including the listing of schools to be included under the central scheme. In a bid to pacify the CPI, a key ally in the ruling front, the state government will write to the Centre informing its decision to halt further steps and seek relaxations in the scheme’s conditions.

Meanwhile, the LDF will convene an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss PM SHRI. According to unconfirmed reports, the front is expected to appoint a panel to study the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Kerala and the Centre for implementing the scheme.

Amid the political row, Minister Saji Cherian, who represents the CPM in the cabinet, told the media that the CPI’s concerns over PM SHRI would be discussed politically and addressed appropriately.

“Some more clarity needs to be brought to the matter. The CPI wants a clear decision. This will be discussed politically, and we will move forward after taking an appropriate decision,” Cherian said.

He also defended the state government’s decision not to approach the court against the PM SHRI scheme, unlike Tamil Nadu.

“The neighbouring state is more financially sound than Kerala, and they are yet to receive any central funds under the scheme despite going to court,” Cherian pointed out.

He added that the LDF government would not implement any educational policy of the BJP-led central government.

“It has already been made clear that the LDF government will not implement any of the BJP government’s educational policies. Education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, and the authority to prepare school syllabi and curricula rests with the respective states,” he said.