Pinarayi blames Centre for slashing SC/ST education funds

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticizes Modi government for cutting education funds for SC/ST communities, vows to ensure their development.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has blamed the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre for slashing education and research funds for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) communities. Inaugurating an SC/ST conclave at Malampuzha near here on Sunday, the Chief Minister said that the Centre had cut down scholarships for these communities.

“Caste discrimination remains rampant in higher education, leading to students dropping out and, in extreme cases, even taking their own lives,” said the Chief Minister, adding that increasing attacks on SC members were worrying.

Mr. Vijayan acknowledged that the reservation system was being undermined owing to the increasing prevalence of contract appointments, a trend not unique to Kerala but observed in many other States as well. He attributed this issue to the Central government’s failure to enact legislation in key areas.

The Chief Minister said that while Kerala followed the reservation principle in Public Service Commission (PSC) recruitments and held special recruitments, a staggering 13 lakh posts were remaining vacant across the country.

“Kerala stands out for its sustained legacy of social reform movements. But other States are still struggling with persistent discrimination,” he said, adding that it was the E.M.S. Namboodiripad government which implemented numerous welfare schemes for SC/ST communities.

Mr. Vijayan said his government would initiate schemes to ensure that the SC/ST communities are not left behind in Kerala’s development journey. He said 2.45 lakh PSC appointments were made in the last nine years by following reservation principles. He also said that his government ensured a higher allocation for SC/ST development than their population proportion, established model residential schools with modern facilities, provided scholarships to six lakh SC/ST students, constructed hostels for them and distributed land to landless SC/ST families.

The Chief Minister said that the SC/ST communities had historically faced injustice and violence across the country. “That is why social justice was enshrined in the Constitution. Tampering with the Constitution will directly undermine social justice,” he warned.