New Delhi: Opposition-ruled states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have not received any fund from the Union government’s share under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme (SSA) for the financial year 2024-25, Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary has told the Rajya Sabha.

Chaudhary, who was responding to a question raised by CPI(M) MP John Brittas, said that the three states have received zero funds till March 27 in the financial year, reported The Hindu.

While Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal have approved central allocations of Rs. 328.90 crore, Rs. 2,151.60 crore, and Rs. 1,745.80 crore, respectively for the current fiscal year, no funds had been released from this central share to these states till March 27, revealed the data.

According to the data, out of a central allocation of Rs. 45,830.21 crore for 36 states, Rs. 27,833.50 crore has been released by March 27 to all the states except Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh has received the highest funds amounting to Rs. 4,487.46 crore.

Among the three states, Tamil Nadu is presently at loggerheads with the Union government over its opposition to the three-language formula mentioned in the National Education Policy (NEP).

Last year, following the refusal of three opposition-ruled states to participate in the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme, the BJP-led Union government had stopped funds to these states under the SSA.

Opposition-ruled Delhi, Punjab and West Bengal had refused to sign the MoU for the PM-Shri scheme, prompting the Centre to stop their SSA funds.

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