Abhijeet Dipke Urges ₹8,452 Crore PM CARES Allocation For Schools

Activist Abhijeet Dipke has formally suggested that the central government utilize the ₹8,452 crore corpus of the PM CARES Fund to bolster India's educational infrastructure. Dipke argues that this substantial amount could facilitate the construction of approximately 8,000 rural schools across the country. The proposal highlights a perceived disparity between high-level government spending and the current state of primary education facilities. He noted that even basic amenities for officials often exceed the resources provided to government-run schools.

The suggestion follows recent disclosures indicating that the PM CARES Fund corpus rose to a record ₹8,452 crore during the 2024-25 financial year. This marks a significant increase from the ₹7,173 crore reported in the preceding 2023-24 period. Experts have raised questions regarding the transparency of the fund's audit reports as the balance continues to grow. Dipke’s appeal leverages these financial figures to demand a more direct social impact from the accumulated public contributions, specifically targeting the education sector's urgent needs.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the proposal, criticizing Dipke's understanding of the fund's operational mandate. Party representatives suggested that the activist lacked basic factual knowledge regarding how such funds are legally governed. Despite the political pushback, Dipke is proceeding with a social audit of schools in Latur scheduled for August 20, 2026. This move aims to document the ground reality of school conditions and maintain pressure on the government to redirect national resources toward improving student learning environments across Maharashtra and India.