Chhattisgarh to get 13 ashram schools

The ministry of tribal welfare has sanctioned 13 ashram schools to be set up in different parts of Chhattisgarh including the pockets affected by the Left wing extremism. This was informed to the state authorities at a meeting held between Union minister for tribal welfare Jual Oram and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday. The 13 ashram schools sanctioned would accommodate 500 students. The state government officials said the proposal for opening the ashram schools was sent earlier. The ministry had responded to the request made by the Chhattisgarh government and sanctioned the schools.

The places where the schools would be set up had not been disclosed. Many would come in the red zone. The Chhattisgarh government had been taking a slew of measures to impart good education to the students in the Naxal-infested pockets so that it could help connecting the area with the mainstream of the society. The state-run Prayas centre had been taking care of children whose parents were killed in the Naxal violence in Bastar. The centre is located in Raipur

and more than 100 students had qualified in the engineering and medical entrance examinations. The state government is mooting a plan to extend the branches of the institute in other parts of the state. "The union minister had assured that the ministry would provide all necessary assistance for expanding the institute," the officials said.

Chhattisgarh chief minister also invited the attention of union minister towards opening cold storages in Bastar. This would help in improving the economy of Bastar that had been depended on forest produce. The tribals selling the produce would also be the beneficiaries. The officials said the union minister had assured that the ministry would explore the possibilities of opening cold storages in Bastar.