‘School on wheels’: Gujarat converts 28 retired buses into mobile classrooms for children in salt-producing regions
In a major push to curb school dropout rates among migratory communities, the Gujarat government on Tuesday rolled out 28 solar-powered mobile classrooms crafted from retired state transport buses.
Dubbed “School on Wheels” (locally known as Ranshala), the initiative is designed to bring uninterrupted education directly to the children of Agariya (salt-pan worker) families living in the remote, harsh desert expanses of Surendranagar, Patan, Kutch, and Morbi districts.
Repurposing for Public Welfare
The fleet was officially flagged off from the Pathikashram State Transport Depot in Gandhinagar by Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi. The launch was strategically timed to coincide with Shala Praveshotsav, the state’s annual school enrollment drive.
“Gujarat ST has presented an excellent example of how its unused buses can be put to the best possible use through the Ranshala initiative,” Sanghavi said, praising the collaboration between Samagra Shiksha, the Education Department, and the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC).
Sanghavi emphasized that the project eliminates the need for children to travel grueling distances for school, promising that more retired buses will be converted in the future to ensure no child is left behind.
A High-Tech Classroom on the Move
Targeting children aged 6 to 14 who are affected by seasonal migration, each bus accommodates over 20 students and is fully engineered to withstand desert environments.
Key features of the mobile classrooms include:
- Sustainable Power: Equipped with a 3.8 KVA off-grid solar plant that can keep the classroom running for up to 48 hours without external electricity.
- Digital Learning: Features 43-inch smart TVs, Dish TV educational channels, FM radio, and digital clocks to support both online and offline state-led curriculum.
- Desert-Ready Infrastructure: Includes foldable outdoor shade nets, portable study tables, detachable blackboards, purified drinking water systems, and dedicated teacher cabins.
Beyond Academics: Health and Recreation
To encourage attendance and holistic growth, the Ranshala buses double as recreational and wellness hubs.
- Play & Creativity: The vehicles are outfitted with educational graphics, libraries, and board games like Ludo, alongside outdoor equipment like swings, slides, and basketball hoops.
- Health & Safety: Every bus is equipped with first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and health-monitoring tools like digital weighing scales and BMI charts.
District Deployment
The initial fleet of 28 buses has been distributed across the salt-producing regions based on demand:
- Surendranagar (Patdi taluka): 20 buses
- Patan (Santalpur): 4 buses
- Kutch (Anjar): 2 buses
- Morbi (Malia): 2 buses
By bringing the school directly to the salt pans, officials hope the initiative will bridge the educational gap caused by seasonal displacement and provide stability to thousands of marginalized children.
