T’puram: General education minister N Samsudheen urged Centre to expedite the release of nearly Rs 1,500 crore due to Kerala for the state’s school education sector. Addressing a meeting of state education ministers in New Delhi on Wednesday, he said Centre had kept the funds due under Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) scheme pending and should not link them to PM Shri scheme.The money was meant for various educational projects in state, he said. Invoking the principle of cooperative federalism, Samsudheen said students in Kerala should receive the same consideration as their counterparts in other states. He urged Centre to provide uninterrupted assistance to Kerala.Samsudheen also informed Centre that Kerala was willing to cooperate in implementing PM POSHAN scheme. He sought the extension of the scheme, which is currently available to students up to Class VIII, to Plus Two students. Kerala was also prepared to provide breakfast under the scheme, he told the meeting.
