Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday, 24 June said tribal students from remote corners of the state are now pursuing science, engineering, and medical education — professional pathways that were largely out of reach a generation ago due to poor educational infrastructure in the region. Patel made the remarks while addressing gatherings in Dahod district on the second day of the 24th 'Shala Praveshotsav' (school enrolment drive).

What Happened at Shala Praveshotsav

Patel personally enrolled more than 300 children in schools at Moti Kharaj, Rahadungari, and Gangarda villages. He described the annual enrolment drive — originally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — as having evolved into what he called 'a banyan tree of development in the field of education.' He said children who had entered schools through earlier editions of the drive had since gone on to become doctors, engineers, and pilots.

Infrastructure Push in Tribal Schools

Patel said the state government had invested in modernising school infrastructure across rural and remote regions. According to him, schools have been equipped with smart classrooms, computer laboratories, internet connectivity, and modern science laboratories. He said these upgrades were enabling students from villages and interior areas to engage with contemporary learning methods and compete more effectively. MP Jaswantsinh Bhabhor separately pointed to the construction of a modern English-medium school at Singvad, built at a cost of ₹23 crore, as an example of the infrastructure investment reaching the tribal belt.

Scholarship Expansion and Girls' Education

Patel announced that the income ceiling for scholarship eligibility for tribal students had been raised from ₹2.5 lakh to ₹6 lakh, widening the pool of families that qualify for support. He said girls studying in Classes 9 to 12 can receive assistance of up to ₹50,000 under the Namo Lakshmi Scheme, while students in the science stream in Classes 11 and 12 are eligible for up to ₹50,000 under the Namo Saraswati Scheme. Girls completing Classes 11 and 12 in the science stream can access combined assistance of up to ₹75,000 through multiple schemes, he added. Patel cited the example of three girls from Kharaj village who had reached the national level in rugby as evidence of what he described as expanding opportunities for girls across the tribal belt.

Dropout Recovery and Parental Involvement

Addressing the problem of school dropouts, Patel said officials and education department staff were visiting the homes of children who had left school, identifying the challenges they faced, and encouraging them to return. He appealed to parents to visit schools regularly and discuss their children's progress with teachers. He also advised students to use mobile phones and television constructively and to prioritise studies and educational activities.

Development Context: Migration and Irrigation

Bhabhor said the government was working to reduce labour migration from tribal areas, noting that projects worth more than ₹5,000 crore had received in-principle approval to bring Narmada water to the areas of Bariya, Dhanpur, Garbada, Dahod, and Jhalod. He said the irrigation projects, combined with educational improvements, were expected to help future generations of tribal families become self-reliant. He also credited the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana-2 with accelerating development in tribal areas. Patel additionally called for public participation in rainwater harvesting under the 'Catch the Rain' campaign and in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' plantation drive, planting a sapling on school premises during the visit.