Thanthai Periyar Dravida kazhagam protests Centre’s haste in implementing PM SHRI scheme in Tamil Nadu

Coimbatore: Members of Thanthai Periyar Dravida kazhagam (TPDK) on Saturday staged a protest at the district collectorate condemning the Union govt over its haste in implementing Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme in Tamil Nadu, while the state was navigating a delicate political transition after the assembly election.The Union education ministry has reportedly expedited the rollout of the scheme with a recent communication from the state chief secretary mandating its implementation. The move has sparked a backlash from progressive parties, who view it as a strategic "intrusion" by the BJP-led govt at the Centre during a period of administrative flux. The scheme is a key component of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which includes the contentious three-language formula. Critics argue that adopting the scheme would effectively mandate Hindi and Sanskrit in state schools - a red line for Tamil Nadu's linguistic identity. "For the past five years, DMK-led govt refused to implement the policy, forcing the Centre to withhold nearly Rs5,000 crore in crucial education funds for the state," said TPDK general secretary K Ramakrishnan. He said the Centre was exploiting the current political stalemate to bypass the state's long-standing autonomy. Various progressive parties have condemned the move, urging the interim administration not to sign the memorandum of understanding. Ramakrishnan also warned that protests would intensify across the state, if any attempt to enforce the policy was being made in Tamil Nadu. He also called on the next govt to be formed in the state to prioritize social justice and safeguard Tamil Nadu's rights, ensuring that federalism was not sacrificed for financial incentives.