Tamil Nadu Education Fund Controversy: The Cold War Between State and Union Government

தமிழ்நாடு அரசுக்கும், ஒன்றிய பாஜக அரசுக்கும் இடையே கல்வி நிதி விவகாரம் தொடர்பாக பெரும் பனிப்போர் நடந்து வருகிறது. அண்மையில், மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் திரு. மு.க.ஸ்டாலின் அவர்கள், தமிழ்நாட்டிற்கு ஒதுக்கப்பட்ட ரூ.2152 கோடி கல்வி நிதியை பிற மாநிலங்களுக்கு மாற்றியதன் மூலம், தங்களது உரிமைக்காகப் போராடும் மாணவர்களை, ஒன்றிய பாஜக அரசு தண்டிப்பதாகக் கடுமையாகக் கண்டனம் தெரிவித்தார். இதற்கு பதிலளிக்கும் விதமாக, PM SHRI திட்டத்திற்கான ஒப்பந்தத்தில் தமிழ்நாடு கையெழுத்திடாததே நிதி ஒதுக்கீடு தள்ளிப்போகக் காரணம் என ஒன்றிய பாஜக அரசு விளக்கமளித்தது.

Allegations and Clarifications Over Fund Allocation

Under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, a centrally sponsored education scheme, the Centre and state governments share funding in a 60:40 ratio. This fund covers school development, teacher training, skill development, and student scholarships. For the current financial year, Tamil Nadu was allocated ₹2152 crore under this scheme. However, reports emerged that the funds were redistributed to other states. The Tamil Nadu government alleged this diversion was retaliatory, linked to its refusal to join the PM SHRI scheme—part of the National Education Policy (NEP).

Further allegations suggest that states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal were entirely excluded from fund allocation, receiving not even a single rupee. At the same time, large sums were reportedly sanctioned for other states—₹6.25 lakh crore for Uttar Pradesh, ₹2.02 lakh crore for Assam, ₹1.25 lakh crore each for Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

The Three-Language Policy 

In response to a Lok Sabha question raised by Congress MP Manickam Tagore on the three-language policy, Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary gave a written reply. He stated that the policy would continue to be implemented in a manner that encourages student choice and promotes multilingualism. He also emphasised that the NEP 2020 does not impose any language on any state.

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National Education Policy

The minister further clarified that prior to framing the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, consultations were held with all states, union territories, and relevant stakeholders. Since education falls under the Concurrent List, he stated that it is up to individual state and union territory governments to formulate their own implementation guidelines for the three-language policy based on the NEP’s goals and recommendations. 

Despite these explanations, allegations continue to grow that the Union BJP government is deliberately sidelining Tamil Nadu. The education fund controversy remains a major flashpoint between Tamil Nadu and the Union government.