TN CM Vijay urges Centre to release Rs 3,284 cr education funds
Chennai, June 11
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Thursday urged the Union government to release the pending Rs 3,284 crore education funds due to the state without linking them to the implementation of the National Education Policy, 2020, and its three-language formula.
Addressing the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Chief Minister Vijay said that education was a Constitutional responsibility and financial assistance meant for school education should not be withheld on policy grounds.
He stressed that Tamil Nadu had consistently achieved high standards in education and that the release of funds should not be conditional upon the adoption of the NEP or the trilingual policy.
The Chief Minister reiterated Tamil Nadu's long-standing commitment to its two-language policy and said the state had achieved remarkable progress in literacy, higher education enrolment and human development indicators through its existing education model.
Highlighting the issue of fiscal federalism, Chief Minister Vijay called upon the Centre to ensure a fair distribution of resources among states.
He said that states which had performed exceptionally well in maintaining financial discipline, improving social indicators and successfully implementing population control measures should receive due recognition and incentives from the Union government.
The Chief Minister noted that several southern states, including Tamil Nadu, had effectively controlled population growth and contributed significantly to the national economy.
Such states, he said, should not be placed at a disadvantage in the allocation of central resources or Parliamentary representation because of their developmental achievements.
In a significant cultural demand, Chief Minister Vijay urged the Union government to declare the Thirukkural, the timeless Tamil literary classic authored by the poet-saint Thiruvalluvar, as India's National Literature.
He said the Thirukkural transcended linguistic, regional and religious boundaries and offered universal values relevant to humanity.
The Chief Minister also raised concerns regarding the welfare of Tamil Nadu fishermen detained in neighbouring countries.
He appealed to the Centre to take urgent diplomatic measures to secure the release of fishermen and fishing boats held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan and ensure their safe return to India.
Chief Minister Vijay said the livelihoods of thousands of coastal families depended on fishing and called for sustained diplomatic engagement to prevent recurring arrests and safeguard the interests of Indian fishermen operating in international waters.
The Chief Minister's speech focused on education, federal rights, cultural recognition and fishermen's welfare, while reiterating Tamil Nadu's demand for greater respect for state autonomy and equitable treatment within the federal framework.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good points by CM Vijay, especially about fiscal federalism. Southern states have been contributing so much to the national kitty but getting short-changed in return. The Thirukkural as National Literature is a fantastic idea - it's truly universal. Hope the Centre listens.
While I appreciate the demand for funds, linking everything to state autonomy feels a bit overdone. NEP has good aspects too - why not implement it partially? Also, the three-language formula could help our students compete nationally. But yes, funds should not be withheld arbitrarily.
The fishermen issue is close to my heart - my uncle is a fisherman in Rameswaram. Every other month there's news of arrests by Sri Lanka. We need strong diplomatic action! And the Thirukkural demand is brilliant - it's not just Tamil literature, it's world heritage. 👏
I'm from TN but living in Delhi now. Both sides have valid points - states need autonomy but national integration requires some common ground. Rs 3,284 cr is a lot of money for our schools, so release it first, then discuss policy differences later. Bureaucracy should not hurt children's education.
Interesting to see this from an international perspective. What surprises me is the strong regional pride in education policy - in many countries, national standards override state preferences. But clearly TN has a successful model, so I understand the resistance to change. Fair point about not withholding funds though.
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