Nagpur: For thousands of tribal children in the remote pockets of Vidarbha, the next chapter of school will no longer begin with a bus ride out of the village. The state government has approved upgrades for 16 government-run tribal ashramshalas across Nagpur and Amravati divisions, bringing Class 8-10 or Class 11-12 classes to these schools whose students were until now forced to commute daily to district towns, or drop out altogether.
Government Approval and Categories
The tribal development department cleared the move on June 11. The sanction covers three categories. One primary ashramshala in the region will now run Class 8 to 10. Six existing secondary schools have been cleared to add both Arts and Science streams in Class 11 and 12. Two more in Chandrapur get only the Arts stream. Four others, including two in Nagpur district, get only the Science stream.
List of Upgraded Schools
The full list of 16 schools with district details is appended. Four of the upgraded schools are in Nagpur district alone — two each in the Ramtek-Parseoni belt north of the city and the Katol belt to the west. Until now, students from these schools who wanted to study Science after Std 10 had to commute daily to Ramtek, Kamptee or Nagpur, with the cost of transport and the loss of study hours falling hardest on tribal and economically weaker families.
Minister's Statement
Minister of state Ashish Jaiswal, who represents Ramtek constituency, said he followed up with the government for Belda and Kolitmara Science upgrades. "With the Science stream now available locally, students will save time, effort and expense, and more of them will get the opportunity to opt for Science," he said.
Staff Sanctions and Implementation
The government has also sanctioned posts for core staff and supporting staff. Each of the 16 schools getting the Std 8-10 upgrade will get a secondary headmaster, four secondary teachers and a junior clerk, taking the new posts sanctioned under this head alone to 102. A Class-4 multipurpose post will be filled through outsourcing on a wage of 18,000 rupees a month per school. The finance department's concurrence dated June 11 has been cited.
Impact on Tribal Communities
The two Nagpur-district Science upgrades in particular fall in tehsils with significant tribal populations served by the Aheri, Nagpur and Gadchiroli project offices, which will now have to staff and equip the new senior secondary classrooms before the academic session begins.
