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Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 19 (IANS) Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has lauded the Kerala government’s decision to join the Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme and termed it a major victory for the organisation’s sustained campaign and protests across the state.
For months, the ABVP has been demanding that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government sign an agreement with the Center to implement the PM SHRI scheme in Kerala, a move that will enable hundreds of schools to be upgraded to national standards.
Education Minister V. Sivankutty announced earlier this week that Kerala has finally agreed to join the scheme after prolonged hesitation and political differences within the ruling front.
In a statement issued on Sunday, ABVP said it is “the only student organization which has consistently raised the demand for inclusion of Kerala in the PM SHRI scheme since its inception”.
The organization reminded that on April 18, an ABVP delegation had met Minister Sivankutty and submitted a memorandum urging him to approve the agreement.
The student organization alleged that instead of addressing their legitimate demands, the Kerala government “attempted to suppress the voice of the student council” by using police force and attacking its workers, including Kerala State Secretary EU Eshwarprasad.
Despite what it described as “coercive measures and political hostility”, the ABVP said it stood by the statewide demonstrations to insist on the implementation of the plan.
The PM SHRI initiative launched by the Central Government aims to develop over 14,500 schools across India by upgrading existing institutions run by Central, State and local bodies.
The scheme is designed to transform these schools into model institutions similar to Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.
According to ABVP, around 336 schools in Kerala will directly benefit from this programme. Welcoming the latest decision, EU Eshwar Prasad, state secretary of ABVP Kerala, said, “This is a victory for the student community that has reposed its faith in ABVP. Despite violent opposition from the ruling government, our tireless efforts have finally succeeded. The PM SHRI scheme will uplift the educational environment in Kerala and ensure that our students get access to better infrastructure and opportunities.”
He said that ABVP will “continue to lead from the front” in raising issues related to students and the education sector in Kerala.
–IANS
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