On 23 June 2026 Gujarat launched 28 solar-powered mobile classrooms called “School on Wheels” or “Ranshala” to provide schooling to children of Agariya families in salt-producing regions affected by seasonal migration.
Core features
- Vehicle basis: Retired Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) buses repurposed as mobile classrooms.
- Target group: Children aged 6–14 years from Agariya communities in salt-producing areas.
- Geographic focus: Operate across Surendranagar, Patan, Kutch and Morbi districts; allocation: 20 to Patdi (Surendranagar), 4 to Santalpur (Patan), 2 to Anjar (Kutch), 2 to Malia (Morbi).
Infrastructure and learning aids
- Solar power: Each bus fitted with a 3.8 kVA off-grid solar plant; claimed operation up to 48 hours without external supply.
- Audio‑visual: 43‑inch smart TV, Dish TV educational channels and FM radio for synchronous/asynchronous lessons.
- Classroom amenities: LED lighting, fans, portable study tables, teacher cabin, foldable outdoor shade nets and purified drinking water.
- Supplementary tools: Recreational board games, basic health‑monitoring equipment and safety provisions for field deployment.
Institutional linkages
- Implementing agencies: Samagra Shiksha (school education programme), Gujarat Education Department and GSRTC.
- Objective stated: Mitigate interruptions in learning due to seasonal migration of Agariya families.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Samagra Shiksha: Centrally sponsored overarching scheme for school education integrating SSA, RMSA and teacher education (launched 2018).
- GSRTC: State public sector undertaking managing intrastate transport and vehicle assets in Gujarat.