The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has welcomed the Keralam government’s decision to move forward with the PM SHRI scheme, describing it as a significant step towards improving educational standards and infrastructure in the state. The student organisation claimed that its sustained campaign over the years played a key role in ensuring the continuation of the centrally sponsored initiative in Keralam.
According to ABVP, the organisation had consistently advocated for the implementation of the PM SHRI scheme, which aims to enhance the quality of education through modern infrastructure, technology-enabled learning, and improved academic environments. While schools across the country have already been benefiting from the programme, ABVP argued that Keralam’s students were previously denied similar opportunities due to political and ideological considerations.
The organisation said it intensified its efforts following the change of government in the state. As part of this campaign, an ABVP delegation met General Education Minister N. Samsudheen on 16 June and urged the government to continue with the scheme. The delegation highlighted the educational benefits of the initiative and reiterated the organisation’s long-standing demand for its implementation.
Organisation recalls agitations and sacrifices
ABVP stated that it was the only student organisation in Keralam that consistently supported the PM SHRI scheme while other student groups opposed it. The organisation recalled having raised the issue with former Education Minister V. Sivankutty on several occasions and organising multiple protest programmes across the state.
The student body also highlighted the challenges faced during these agitations, claiming that its activists were subjected to police action, including lathi charges, while demanding the implementation of the scheme. According to ABVP, more than 25 activists were imprisoned during the course of the protests. The organisation further alleged that some of its members, including a former state secretary, were victims of a gangster attack.
Welcoming the government’s latest decision, ABVP Keralam State Secretary Yadhu Krishnan said the development was a positive outcome of the organisation’s continued efforts. He stated that the delegation’s meeting with the Education Minister had provided an opportunity to once again present the case for the scheme and explain its benefits for students.
Krishnan also criticised those who had opposed the initiative, saying that individuals and groups that spread misinformation about the PM SHRI scheme should reassess their position. He added that educational initiatives aimed at student welfare and academic excellence should receive support beyond political differences.
The PM SHRI scheme is a flagship programme of the Union government designed to develop model schools across the country with upgraded infrastructure, innovative teaching methods, and improved learning outcomes.
