The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs did not approve any projects proposed by Kerala under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) from 2022 to 2025 as the state had around ₹199 crore as unutilized central funds. The State Department for Minority Affairs has since taken steps to utilize the amount and hopes to see new projects approved this year.
PMJVK is a centrally sponsored program under which community infrastructure is created in sectors such as health, education and skill development in identified areas. It is implemented in all districts, including those selected as aspirational districts. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on December 10 that no funds have been allocated to Kerala under the scheme after 2021-22.
Meanwhile, in response to a Right to Information Act query by Kannur-based ophthalmologist KV Babu on December 29, the ministry said 19 units at an estimated cost of ₹129.9 crore have been approved for Kerala and ₹38.6 crore has been released in the financial year 2021-22. It said that for the period between 2022 and 2025 “no proposal has yet been received from the State Government”. Reply Sravana Kumar Jatavath, Deputy Secretary, PMJVK says that since PMJVK is a “demand-driven scheme”, allocation of funds is not done under it.
However, an official of the Ministry of Minority Welfare told The Hindu on Thursday (January 1) that the ministry had stopped releasing new funds to Kerala in 2023 as it had around ₹199 crore as unutilized funds, despite the State Level Committee (SLC) proposing at least 38 new projects that year.
State departments are supposed to upload details of proposed projects on the ministry’s website once the SLC approves them. When approval was sought again in 2024, questions were raised about the possible escalation of costs to implement the projects. Local authorities were then allowed to use their own funds to complete them. “Nearly ₹ 158 crore of unutilized funds have now been utilised. The next SLC meeting is scheduled for January 5. At least seven projects will be approved there. We will again seek central approval for them,” the official said.
Following Mr. Rijiju’s reply, Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on December 20: “There was no time to discuss the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Yojana during question hour in Lok Sabha, but it is striking that the Minority Affairs Minister in a written reply to all Houses said that since 20JV House, all PM 20JV funds have been allocated to Kerala funds. This despite that the annexure mentions 34 areas with concentration of minorities in the state, could the government explain why? Mr. Tharoor also said that many government schools in these areas are in a deplorable condition, with leaky roofs and crumbling infrastructure. “Has the state government not submitted any proposals under the PMJVK scheme, or has the Indonesian government rejected all the proposals submitted by Kerala?” Surely a state with such a large minority population deserves a better system designed for the benefit of minorities?”
Published – 1 Jan 2026 19:07 IST
