Ashramshalas (Grant in Aid)
The Ashramshalas Grant-in-Aid scheme from Gujarat's Tribal Development Department funds NGO-run residential schools (classes 1–12) in tribal areas that provide fully free education, food, hostel, books, and daily necessities to Scheduled Tribe children. The government gives ₹1,500/month per enrolled student directly to the operating NGO to cover all costs. Eligible NGOs apply offline to the Tribal Development Department; tribal students simply seek admission to an enrolled Ashramshala.
About This Scheme
The Ashramshalas Grant-in-Aid scheme from Gujarat's Tribal Development Department funds NGO-run residential schools (classes 1–12) in tribal areas that provide fully free education, food, hostel, books, and daily necessities to Scheduled Tribe children. The government gives ₹1,500/month per enrolled student directly to the operating NGO to cover all costs. Eligible NGOs apply offline to the Tribal Development Department; tribal students simply seek admission to an enrolled Ashramshala.
Full official description
The scheme "Ashramshalas (Grant in Aid)" was launched by the Tribal Development Department, Government of Gujarat. The scheme aims to provide comprehensive educational support to Scheduled Tribe students who cannot afford education due to weak economic conditions, addressing the issue of children being forced into traditional occupations or other jobs to support their families instead of attending school. The scheme provides residential schooling facilities with complete boarding and lodging arrangements, where tribal students receive free education, hostel facilities, books, food, and items of daily necessity through 100% grant-in-aid to Non-Governmental Organizations operating these schools across standards 1st to 12th.
Benefits
- Completely free education (no tuition fees) for enrolled ST students from standards 1–12
- Free hostel accommodation, meals, books, and daily necessities
- ₹1,500/month per student granted to the NGO running the school
- Continuous support throughout the academic year
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
For students:
- Must belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category
- Must seek admission to an Ashramshala for standards 1 through 12
For NGOs/institutions:
- Must be an NGO operating in a tribal area of Gujarat
- Must enroll at least 15 boys and 15 girls at inception; at least 10 boys and 10 girls per year thereafter (up to standard 7)
- Must provide residential education from standards 1–8, 9–10, or 11–12
How to Apply
Step 1: The interested applicant should take a printout of the prescribed format of the application form. Alternatively, the interested applicant may visit the Tribal Development Department, Govt. of Gujarat, and request the hard copy of the prescribed format of the application form from the designated staff.
Step 2: In the application form, fill in all the mandatory fields and attach copies of all the mandatory documents (self-attest, if required). Prepare a detailed proposal outlining your organization's capabilities, infrastructure facilities, proposed location, staff arrangements, and plan for providing education, boarding, and lodging to Scheduled Tribe students. Submit the completed application form along with the comprehensive proposal and all supporting documents to the Tribal Development Department.
Inspection and Approval
- The Tribal Development Department will conduct an inspection of the proposed Ashramshala premises to verify the infrastructure, facilities, and readiness to operate the residential school. Cooperate fully during the inspection and provide any additional information or clarification requested by the inspection team.
- Upon successful verification and approval, the Tribal Development Department will issue a formal sanction letter approving the grant-in-aid with terms and conditions, grant amount of ₹1,500/- per month per student, and guidelines for operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the minimum enrollment requirements that a residential school must fulfill during its inception year to qualify for government grant support?
The residential school must enrol a minimum of 15 boys and 15 girls for the first time on inception to qualify for grant-in-aid support.
If my child belongs to the Scheduled Tribe category and needs educational support, can they receive free accommodation along with their studies?
Yes, Scheduled Tribe students receive free hostel facilities and accommodation along with free education, food, books, and items of daily necessity.
What is the monthly financial grant amount provided to the residential school for each enrolled Scheduled Tribe student under this educational support program?
A grant of ₹1,500/- per month is provided to the residential school for every enrolled Scheduled Tribe child to cover all educational and accommodation expenses.
After the first year of operation, how many male and female students must the residential school admit annually until the seventh standard?
The residential school must enrol a minimum of 10 boys and 10 girls every year till 7th standard after the inception year.
Which categories of students are specifically targeted as the primary beneficiaries for admission to these government-supported residential educational institutions?
Scheduled Tribe students are the primary beneficiaries and intended recipients of admission to these government-supported residential educational institutions.
Are there any tuition fees or charges that parents need to pay for their children's education in these residential schools?
No, students receive completely free education without any tuition fees, along with free boarding, lodging, food, books, and daily necessities.
What type of organizations are permitted to operate these residential schools and receive grant-in-aid from the state government for tribal education?
Non-Governmental Organizations working in tribal areas are permitted to operate these residential schools and receive 100% grant-in-aid from the state government.
In which year was this residential educational support program for tribal communities originally launched by the Tribal Development Department?
This residential educational support program for tribal communities was originally launched in the year 1953 by the Tribal Development Department, Government of Gujarat.
What is the geographical coverage area where these grant-aided residential schools for tribal students are currently operational and accepting admissions?
These grant-aided residential schools for tribal students are operational and accepting admissions across all districts of Gujarat.
What range of educational standards or classes are covered under the different types of residential schools supported through this grant program?
The residential schools cover standards 1st to 8th (Ashramshala), standards 9 to 10 (Uttar Buniyadi Ashramshala), and standards 11th to 12th (Uchchattar Uttar Buniyadi Ashramshala).
Besides education and accommodation, what other essential items and facilities are provided free of cost to students in these residential institutions?
Besides education and accommodation, students receive free books, food and meals, and items of daily necessity completely free of cost.
What was the primary objective behind establishing these residential educational institutions for children from tribal communities across the state?
The primary objective is to provide schooling, boarding and lodging at a single location so that tribal students can get better employment and compete equally with other sections of society.
Where should interested parties contact for information and assistance regarding admission procedures or grant applications for these residential schools?
Interested parties should contact the Tribal Development Department at 6th Floor, Block 8, New Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382010, or telephone number +91 79 23257703.
What economic circumstances necessitated the government to establish these fully funded residential schools specifically for tribal population children?
The Scheduled Tribe population cannot afford to spend on their children's education due to weak economic conditions, forcing children into traditional occupations instead of schools.
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- Registration Certificate of the Non-Governmental Organization.
- Recognition Certificate from the Education Department or Appropriate Authority.
- List of Enrolled Students with Complete Details (including names, gender, standard, and Scheduled Tribe certificate numbers).
- Bank Account Details of the Non-Governmental Organization (for direct benefit transfer of grant amounts).
- Infrastructure Details and Facilities Available (hostel capacity, classrooms, kitchen facilities, etc.).
- Staff Details (teachers, wardens, support staff with qualifications and appointments).
- Utilization Certificate of Previous Grant (if applicable, for renewal or continuation of grant).