Grant In Aid Hostels
Free boarding and lodging for tribal students in Std 5–12 · government grant-aided hostels · Gujarat
This Gujarat Tribal Development Department scheme supports NGOs in running hostels that provide free boarding and lodging to Scheduled Tribe students studying in Classes 5 to 12, especially in areas where schools are far from tribal villages. Preference is given to establishing hostels in backward and remote areas where no facility currently exists. NGOs can apply offline at the district Project Administrator/Assistant Commissioner (Vigilance) office before 30th August of the relevant year.
About This Scheme
This Gujarat Tribal Development Department scheme supports NGOs in running hostels that provide free boarding and lodging to Scheduled Tribe students studying in Classes 5 to 12, especially in areas where schools are far from tribal villages. Preference is given to establishing hostels in backward and remote areas where no facility currently exists. NGOs can apply offline at the district Project Administrator/Assistant Commissioner (Vigilance) office before 30th August of the relevant year.
Full official description
The scheme "Grant In Aid Hostels" was launched in 1969 by the Tribal Development Department, Government of Gujarat. The scheme aims to provide boarding and lodging facilities by government registered organizations to the tribal students who wish to pursue primary, secondary and higher secondary education. the scheme provides free lodging and boarding facilities, addressing the challenge that the Scheduled Tribe population has a lower literacy level due to the absence of secondary and higher secondary schools in tribal areas, causing students to leave studies after getting primary education. The scheme is implemented by Non-Governmental Organizations. the applications for this scheme are accepted at the district level at the office of the concerned Project Administrator/Assistant Commissioner (Vigilance).
Benefits
- Free lodging and boarding (accommodation and meals) for eligible ST students in Classes 5–12
- Grant-in-aid provided to the NGO to run and maintain the hostel
💡 Why Startups Should Care
For edtech startups targeting rural tribal students in Gujarat, grant-aided hostels are a concentrated, captive audience of motivated learners with government-funded accommodation — piloting digital learning tools in these hostels could be a high-impact low-CAC distribution strategy.
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- For students: Must be from a Scheduled Tribe; studying in Class 5 to 12; annual family income up to ₹1,20,000 (rural) or ₹1,50,000 (urban)
- For institutions: Must be a voluntary organization registered under the Public Trusts Act 1950 or Societies Registration Act 1860; must have a bank balance exceeding ₹15,000; building must be equipped with water and electricity; priority given to areas with no existing hostel
How to Apply
For NGOs seeking to establish or continue a grant-aided hostel:
- Obtain the prescribed application form from the Office of the concerned Project Administrator or Assistant Commissioner of Tribal Development.
- Attach all required documents including registration certificates, balance sheets, and audit reports.
- Submit the completed application to the relevant tribal development authority.
- After approval, the hostel receives grant funding and operates under the government's Backward Class Hostel rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific educational standards must students be currently studying in to be considered eligible for the complimentary residential facility?
Students intended to benefit from this initiative must be currently studying in standard 5th up to standard 12th.
Are there any alternative registration requirements, such as registration under the Societies Registration Act, that the applying institution must satisfy?
Yes, the voluntary institution is required to be officially registered under the provisions of the Societies Registration Act 1860.
Is the applying institution mandated to provide a formal certificate confirming the availability of a proper building equipped with essential utilities?
Yes, a certificate must be submitted as an undertaking confirming that a suitable building, complete with water and electricity facilities, is available at the requested site.
If the application form contains missing fields or is found to have incomplete required details, will the processing office proceed with its consideration?
No, applications that are submitted with incomplete required details or information will not be processed or taken into account.
What critical timeline restrictions apply to the date on the bank balance certificate required for submission along with the formal application form?
The certificate must be dated after the date the advertisement was published in newspapers, but before the final application acceptance date.
What is the maximum acceptable limit for the applicant student’s family’s annual income if they permanently reside in a rural geographical area?
The family's total annual income must not exceed ₹1,20,000/- (Indian Rupees one lakh twenty thousand) if the residence is in a rural area.
When the selection process commences, what primary geographical consideration is given preference regarding the proposed location of the new facility?
Preference is strictly mandated for selecting hostels only in those locations where there is currently an absence of existing hostel facilities.
Does the institution need to formally commit to following current rules and future administrative instructions issued by the relevant governing departments?
Yes, the organization must pass a resolution agreeing to comply with all current rules for Backward Class Hostels and any administrative instructions received from the Tribal Development Department and the Director, Tribal Development.
Is there a possibility that an application will be summarily rejected if the necessary original or certified supporting documents/proofs are not attached?
Yes, if the application does not include the required original or appropriately certified documents/proofs, it will be considered rejected.
What is the minimum threshold requirement regarding the bank balance or available liquid working capital that the applicant organization needs to demonstrate?
The applicant institution must submit a certificate showing that its bank balance or liquidity/working capital exceeds ₹15,000/- (Indian Rupees fifteen thousand).
Could you please specify the maximum allowed threshold for the annual earnings of the beneficiary's family if they are residing in an urban location?
For families living in an urban area, the maximum permitted annual income limit is ₹1,50,000/- (Indian Rupees one lakh fifty thousand).
Which specific legal registration status must the non-governmental voluntary institution possess under the Public Trusts Act to submit an application?
The voluntary organization applying for the facility must be registered under the legal framework of the Public Trusts Act 1950.
What happens to applications for starting a new Grant In Aid facility if the completed forms are physically received after the official submission time limit?
Applications that are received after the specific time limit established for submission will definitely not be taken into consideration.
In addition to the availability check, what characteristics of the area surrounding the proposed site are given specific priority during the selection?
Priority for approval and selection should be specifically assigned to areas identified as backward or remote geographical locations.
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- Organization's constitution copy
- Organization's registration copy
- Latest bank balance certificate (dated after advertisement and before submission deadline)
- Audit reports for the past 3 years
- List of hostel residents and staff
- Land ownership or lease documents for the hostel premises