Centre withholding funds to states goes against cooperative federalism: MK Stalin at Niti Aayog meet

Criticising the Union government for allegedly withholding funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme for the financial year 2024-’25, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday said that states having to approach courts to get their rightful share goes against cooperative federalism, reported The New Indian Express.

Speaking at the Niti Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin said it was “not acceptable in a cooperative federal India for funds due to a state and already approved to be withheld, delayed, or reduced”, according to The Indian Express.

The Samagra Shiksha scheme, implemented in 2018, is the scheme through which the Union government provides support for elementary and secondary school education.

On May 21, the Stalin government moved the Supreme Court, alleging ​​that the Union government’s decision to withhold funds was a response to its refusal to implement the 2020 National Education Policy and the PM SHRI Schools scheme, and its opposition to the three-language formula that includes Hindi.

The Tamil Nadu chief minister said during the meeting on Saturday that the Centre’s decision “adversely impacts the education of children studying in government schools and those studying under the Right to Education Act”, reported The Indian Express.

He also stated that Tamil Nadu was “marching ahead with long-term plans” and asserted that the state would make a...

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