Maharashtra State Aided Tribal Ashram School Meet Convenes in Nagpur
The convention focused on enhancing educational standards and addressing challenges faced by ashram schools in Maharashtra.
Revenue Minister emphasized quality education and healthcare for tribal students.
A coordination committee is proposed to address institutional issues.
Kishor Wankhede elected as state president of the association.
Nagpur recently hosted a significant state-level convention organized by the Maharashtra State Aided Tribal Ashram School Association. The event gathered various stakeholders to discuss pressing issues related to ashram schools, their management, and the welfare of tribal students.
During the convention, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule highlighted the importance of providing tribal students with not only quality education but also essential services such as nutritious meals, healthcare, and access to digital learning technologies. He emphasized that ashram schools should not be treated as secondary institutions and called for enhanced support from the government.
The Tribal Development Department oversees both government and aided ashram schools, implementing various schemes aimed at improving education, nutrition, and healthcare for tribal students. Bawankule announced plans to establish a coordination committee, which would include representatives from ashram school management, the department's commissioner, and the secretary. This committee aims to address the challenges faced by these institutions and ensure regular communication through monthly meetings.
Representatives at the convention voiced several demands, including the need to halt criminal actions against school heads without prior inquiries, the ability to recruit teachers locally when qualified candidates are unavailable, and the filling of Class IV positions with appropriate pay scales. They also called for the removal of the 80-km admission requirement and an increase in educational materials and contingency grants for students.
The convention concluded with the election of new office-bearers, where Kishor Wankhede was chosen as the state president, and former MLA Tekchand Savarkar was appointed as the working president. Approximately 500 heads of institutions and representatives participated in the event, and they later met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to present a memorandum detailing their pending demands.
