ASHRAM SCHOOL PROJECT
The NCRD has been functioning effectively for socio economic & educational welfare of the tribal population since 1982. One of the activities pertains to running of Ashram School in remote Tribal Areas of Gadchiroli District in Maharashtra. The life and living of Scheduled Tribes community who predominantly reside in the forest is unique in many ways. Their places of living are spread over to a much wider area. Their habitations are small in number. They are still in the traditional influence. They also face problems in sending their children to schools which are far away from their places of habitation. Moreover most of them are below poverty line and cannot afford to meet expenditure on education. This lead to deprivation of schooling. This population is mostly engaged in forest produce and non-agriculture activities and that too only for a very limited period of the year.
Scheduled Tribes mostly consist of Gond. Raj-Gond, Maria Group and speak Madia (a local dialect). Being a thick forest area and farthest East end of the District and that of the state also, there is lack of communication facilities by roads or by any other means. During rainy season and thereafter many parts remain cut off, due to small and big rivers like Godavari, Pranhita, Indravati etc. Almost all the children in remote area join labour market at a very early age.
Beginning of Vinoba Ashram School
It was in 1988 when then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Shankarrao Chavan invited Ku. Nirmalatai Deshpande, Chairman, NCRD to discuss problems of violence created by Naxalite in this part of the state, she had explained that this is not only law and order problem and hence it will have to be tackled by changing hearts and attitudes based on non-violent means enunciated by Gandhi-Vinoba Bhave and hence educational activaties were launched. The most difficult locations were selected by her to start educational project.
The NCRD with dedicated functionaries, voluntary workers or Rachnatmak Samaj, Sarvoday activities made enormous efforts by organizing awareness campaigns and enrolment drive in over 100 villages around the selected locations for motivation the parents to send their children to schools. The efforts bore fruits and in first year itself 273 students were enrolled where none was possibility. It was astonishing success. Today in the year 2022-23, there are 2136 students including 1003 girls, studying in Six Ashram Schools located at Kotmi, Geda, Hedri, Pandewahi, in Ettapli Tahsil, Binagunda in Bhamragarh Tahsil and Talwada in Aheri Tahsil of Gadchiroli District.
As per grant-in-aid rules, Day-Scholars Students are not entitled for facilities available to
hostellers like boarding and lodging, free supply of books and writing material and uniform and provision for
medical aid. The NCRD provided these facilities at its cost to these 192 students to motivate their parents to
enrol them in schools.
The NCRD will be able to strive hard to fulfil its mission of meeting the growing
aspirations of our tribal brethren. In terms of growth, the progress is good but the mission is incomplete in
the sense that NCRD has not been able to provide excellent inftrastructure inclusive of school and hostel
buildings and staff quarters.
IMPACT
Impact made by the NCRD's activities on tribal community is discernible as
(I) The educational projects proved propellant in view of visible impact in reduction of
child marriage, qualitative in family life, avoidance of wastage of expenditure on bad habits and
enkindling spirit for better family life. In all activities of NCRE, Community Participation is given much
importance. A complete school building consisting of ten class rooms was constructed at Pandewahi, by the
local people. This is a rare type of achievement. Enrolment drive, motivation programs, cultural programs,
games and sports etc. are some of the methods of community participation.
(II) The scheduled Tribe parents enroll their children in schools even at a distance of 30 kms away from their homes. Earlier, they were not willing to take admission even in local school. The number of girls in school is increasing day by day. The dropout rates is reduced considerably. The overall progress of Scheduled Tribe Students is quantatively better.
(III) The parents of working children realised that they should not send their children to work. Instead they are now enrolling them in schools at their own initiative. This is a self generation process leading to perceptible success.
PLAN
It is proposed to construct Ashram School Hostel , for Scheduled Tribe boys and girls in Ashram School in remote areas of Ettapali and Aheri Tahsils of Gadchiroli District. Land at Kotmi, Talwada and Geda is allotted by the Govt. of Maharastra. The Land of Hedri is purchased by NCRD and at Pandewahi land is received in donation. The land at these places is sufficient for construction of Ashram School Hostel and for other facilities to the Students. The NCRD envisages excellent infrastructure facilities for Ashram School with completion of this plan. The NCRD solicits support by generous donation to this noble cause.
(I) It is proposed to construct Ashram School Hostel , for Scheduled Tribe boys and girls in Ashram School in remote areas of Ettapali and Aheri Tahsils of Gadchiroli District. Land at Kotmi, Talwada and Geda is allotted by the Govt. of Maharastra. The Land of Hedri is purchased by NCRD and at Pandewahi land is received in donation. The land at these places is sufficient for construction of Ashram School Hostel and for other facilities to the Students. The NCRD envisages excellent infrastructure facilities for Ashram School with completion of this plan. The NCRD solicits support by generous donation to this noble cause.
(II) The society is intending to initiate following essential activities in new future.
1. Establishment of self-employment training institute.
2. Employment Generation imparting through education in Bee-keeping and Sericulture Project.
3. Training in Marketing of forest minor good produce, allotted by tribal population.
4. Propagation of Chrkha Udyog and impact training of manufacture of cloth to tribal
community.
5. Establishing Goshalas & Protection of Cattle help tribals in developing small dairies.
6.Training in Establishment & creation of Gobar Gas Plants as well as Solar Lighting &
Heating systems.
7. Advisory services for Rural Health.
8. Establishment & Training SHG S
Grant-in-Aid Pattern for Ashram Schools.
The Govt. meets entire expenditure of their own schools, however the grant-in-aid paid to voluntary
organization is only on following items.
(i) Pay and Allowances of teachers and hostel staff – 100%.
(ii) Boarding expenditure per students Rs.2200/- p.m. for 10 months.
(iii) School Expenditure limited to 8% of hostel staff salary amount.
(iv) Building grant for construction of School Building - Nil.
The above mentioned pattern indicates that there several items which are not admissible for grant-in-aid and wherever provided the provision is very meager. However these are essential to make teaching learning endeavor a success. The NCRD spent nearly Rs.70 lacs during the period for 2012-2025 from infrastructure development, which postulates provision for hostel separately for boys and girls and residential accommodation of staff, could not be made as it requires greater outlay.