Lok Sabha Question No. 568 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-06
Subject: Ashram Schools
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: MAUSAM NOOR, E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS) LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 568 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6.2.2017

## ASHRAM SCHOOLS

## 568. SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR: SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the  details  of  Centrally  sponsored  scheme  'Establishment  of  Ashram  Schools  in Tribal Sub-Plan' along with the number of Ashram Schools in the country, State/ UT-wise;

(b) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  certain  reports  about  Ashram  schools providing  inadequate  diet  resulting  in  prevalence  of  malnutrition  among  students  studying therein and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) the details of monitoring and vigilance mechanism put in place by the Government to monitor the administration and functioning of Ashram schools in the country;

(d) whether any irregularity  have  been  reported  come  to  the  notice  of  the  Government during the last three years; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government thereon and the steps taken /being taken by the Government to further improve the functioning of Ashram schools in the country:

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANTSINH BHABHOR)

(a) The  objective  of  the  scheme  is  to  provide  residential  schools  for  STs  in  an environment conducive to learning to increase the literacy rate among the tribal students and to  bring  them  at  par  with  other  population  of  the  country.  Under  the  scheme,  State Governments  are  eligible  for  100%  central  share  for  construction  of  all  Girls'  Ashram Schools  and  also  for  construction  of  Boys'  Ashram  Schools  in  naxal  affected  areas.  The funding  pattern  for  the  other  Boys'  Ashram  Schools  is  on  50:50  basis,  while  cent  percent assistance is  given to UTs for construction of both Girls' and Boys' Ashram Schools. The scheme covers primary, middle, secondary and senior secondary level of education. Number of Ashram Schools in the country, State / UT-wise is available at Annexure.

(b) to (e) Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  releases  grants-in-aid  only  for  construction  of Ashram Schools under the Scheme of Establishment of Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub-Plan Areas.

Management,  operation  and  day-to-day  running  of  these  Ashram  Schools  is  the responsibility of  concerned State Government. The Government is aware of certain reports regarding malnutrition. In this regard, the concerned States have been addressed.

Ministry is also providing funds under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan (SCA  to  TSP)  and  through  grants  under  article  275(1)  of  the  Constitution  to  States  for establishing backyard kitchen gardens in schools for nutritional security.

Ministry has issued advisories to all state governments on various aspects, including the following:

I. Engagement of trained lady health workers as Wardens/Assistant Wardens in girls' hostels.

II.  Construction  of  boundary  walls  in  both  schools  and  hostels  with  gatekeepers  to  restrict entry and monitoring of visitors.

III. Construction of functional girls' toilets within hostel building for safety.

IV. Co-educational Residential schools (200-300 students capacity) in block headquarters for quality education and physical safety.

V. Promotion of traditional food (minor millets and greens) in schools, meals for nutritional security.

VI. Involvement of parents and community in the school management.

Government  has  undertaken  various  interventions  for  nutritional  security,  health, hygiene  and  safe  drinking  water  which  include,  inter  alia,  Integrated  Child  Development Services  (ICDS)  of  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development,  National  Rural  Health Mission  (NRHM)  of  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare,  Mid  Day  Meals  Scheme  of Ministry of Human Resource Development, Drinking Water & Total Sanitation Campaign of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation.

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## ANNEXURE

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.568 for answer  on  6.02.2017  by  Shrimati  Mausam  Noor,  Shri  E.T.  Mohammed  Basheer, regarding 'Ashram Schools'

| Sl. No.   | State/UT               | Number of Ashram Schools                          |
|-----------|------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| 1         | 2                      | 3                                                 |
| 1.        | Andaman &Nicobar       | NIL                                               |
| 2.        | Islands Andhra Pradesh | 180                                               |
| 3.        | Arunachal Pradesh      | Non TSP State/UT. Hence not covered under         |
| 4.        | Assam                  | Scheme. 3                                         |
| 5.        | Bihar                  | NIL                                               |
| 6.        | Chhattisgarh           | 157                                               |
| 7.        | Daman &Diu             | NIL                                               |
| 8.        | Dadra &Nagar Haveli    | Non TSP State/UT. Hence not covered under         |
| 9.        | Goa                    | Scheme. 1                                         |
| 10.       | Gujarat                | 164                                               |
| 11.       | Himachal Pradesh       | NIL                                               |
| 12.       | Jammu &Kashmir         | NIL                                               |
| 13.       | Jharkhand              | 11                                                |
| 14.       | Karnataka              | 28                                                |
| 15.       | Kerala                 | 11                                                |
| 16.       | Lakshadweep            | Non TSP State/UT. Hence not covered under         |
| 17.       | Madhya Pradesh         | Scheme. 405                                       |
| 18.       | Maharashtra            | 95                                                |
| 19.       | Manipur                | NIL                                               |
| 20.       | Meghalaya              | Non TSP State/UT. Hence not covered under         |
| 21.       | Mizoram                | Scheme. Non TSP State/UT. Hence not covered under |
| 22.       | Nagaland               | Scheme. Non TSP State/UT. Hence not covered under |
| 23.       | Odisha                 | Scheme. 97                                        |
| 24.       | Rajasthan              | 9                                                 |
| 25.       | Sikkim                 | 1                                                 |
| 26.       | Tamil Nadu             | NIL                                               |
| 27.       | Tripura                | 24                                                |
| 28.       | Uttar Pradesh          | 7                                                 |
| 29.       | Uttarakhand            | 12                                                |
| 30.       | West Bengal            | NIL                                               |
|           | Total                  | 1205                                              |