Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release ₹2,152 crore in Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds for 2024-25 without linking it to the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Stalin emphasized the importance of cooperative federalism and the welfare of lakhs of students, asserting that Tamil Nadu’s stance on the two-language policy remains non-negotiable.
Opposition to NEP and Three-Language Formula
Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the three-language formula mandated by NEP 2020, instead adhering to its two-language policy, which has been in place for decades. Stalin argued that education is in the concurrent list, allowing states to frame their own policies. He also pointed out that Tamil Nadu had been exempted from the Official Languages Act, 1963, under the Official Languages Rules, 1976.
The Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently commented that Tamil Nadu’s opposition to NEP was politically motivated. “We all accept NEP, but they are not accepting it due to political interests,” he said, adding that NEP emphasizes education in the mother tongue to ensure a level playing field for students.
Concerns Over Fund Release
Stalin countered that withholding SSA funds over NEP compliance was a violation of cooperative federalism and an attempt to pressure states into adopting centrally mandated policies. He highlighted that the delay in fund release had impacted teacher salaries, student welfare programs, RTE reimbursements, and transport services for students in remote areas.
“The Union Government’s usage of fund releases as a pressure tactic to coerce a state into adopting centrally mandated programs against its own time-tested policies is unacceptable,” Stalin wrote.
Call for Immediate Action
Stalin urged the Prime Minister to intervene personally and ensure that the ₹2,152 crore SSA funds are released without linking them to NEP 2020 implementation. He also referred to previous instances where funds for Centrally Sponsored Schemes had been delayed, such as the ₹716 crore for anganwadis and women empowerment, which he had raised with the Union Women and Child Development Minister on January 31.
The Tamil Nadu government maintains that state-specific policies must be respected, and any attempt to impose central mandates could disrupt the progress made in education and social welfare.
