The issue of delays in granting financial support to Scheduled Caste Ashram schools again came into focus in the Legislative Council on Wednesday. MLC Vikram Kale raised a Calling Attention Motion and pointed out that 288 Shahu, Phule, Ambedkar Ashram schools in the State are still waiting for Government assurance on grants and the pending 20% salary subsidy for teachers and staff. He said, thousands of students study in these schools and the delay was affecting their functioning.

 

Kale reminded the House that the Government had held a meeting on May 13, 2025 and had promised to take a decision based on Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE) student data for the academic year 2025–26. However, no clear decision has been taken so far, he said. Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat explained that the scheme for providing subsidiary grants to Ashram schools run by voluntary organisations for Scheduled Caste boys and girls was started by the Central Government in 1998–99. Maharashtra currently has 322 such schools. He said that, only 34 schools were approved for Central grants, while the remaining have been running at their own expense since 2002–03 because they were not approved for Central funding. Several schools were later permitted to operate permanently on a non-subsidised basis. 

 

 

A new system introduced in 2019 approved 165 Ashram Schools with high inspection grades for auxiliary grants, similar to the Central model. These schools have been receiving grants from 2019–20 onwards, but only as per prescribed conditions. Their staff receive honorarium, not a full pay scale. Shirsat noted that various schools and teachers’ organisations have been demanding fixed pay scales and full grants under the 2019 decision. However, since the detailed rules for grant distribution are still pending, the Government has not yet released the grants. He added that a meeting with teacher representatives and school organisations was held on May 13, 2025 to review the issue. Following this, U-DISE data for all 165 schools was collected and examined. Minister Shirsat informed the Council that, the proposal for auxiliary grants has now been prepared and is under active consideration. It is currently being processed in coordination with the School Education and Sports Department. He clarified that the final approval for these grants will come from the high-level Secretarial Committee, after which further action will be taken. Shirsat assured the House that the Government was working on the issue and a final decision will be taken after completing all necessary procedures.