Maharashtra to get all 558 aided tribal ashram schools audited by an outside agency

The state government has taken complaints about tribal ashram schools seriously. The complaints include suspicious deaths of students, poor-quality food, incidents such as snakebites, and misuse of government grants. The Tribal Development Department has therefore decided to have all 558 aided ashram schools in the state audited in full by an independent third-party agency.

Tribal Development Minister Dr Ashok Uike has warned that if serious lapses are found in the inquiry, direct legal action will be taken against those who run the institutions.

The state has 500 government and 558 aided ashram schools. In Palghar district alone, hundreds of tribal children live and study in a total of 60 ashram schools, which include government schools, Eklavya schools and unaided schools. The administration has direct control over government schools. However, in many aided schools that receive 100 per cent grant, conditions have not improved despite repeated instructions.

The outside agency will therefore examine the children's accommodation, cleanliness, drinking water, health checks, safety and the actual standard of teaching. It will also look into how the crores of rupees in government grants were used.

After the audit report arrives, necessary changes will be made to the rules to remove the lapses. The government's stand is that operators who play with children's lives will not be spared.

The central kitchen system is a matter of dispute. Student organisations are demanding that it be shut down, but it will not be stopped immediately. Two committees were formed on the issue. The report of one has been received and that of the other is awaited. Until then, a strict plan is being drawn up to reduce the distance between ashram schools and the kitchen so that fresh, hot food reaches the children within 10 to 25 minutes.