Gujarat turns 28 retired buses into solar-powered mobile schools for migrant children
The Gujarat government has converted 28 retired state transport buses into solar-powered mobile classrooms, aimed at providing education to children from migrant Agariya communities. The initiative, named 'Ranshala' or 'School on Wheels', was launched on Tuesday to coincide with the state's 'Shala Praveshotsav' (school enrolment drive).
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi formally inaugurated the 28 buses at the Pathikashram ST Depot in Gandhinagar. The project is a collaboration between the 'Samagra Shiksha' campaign, the Education Department, and the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC).
The buses will serve children aged 6 to 14 from families engaged in salt production in remote desert areas of Surendranagar, Patan, Kutch, and Morbi districts, where seasonal migration often disrupts schooling. Each bus can accommodate over 20 students and is equipped with a 43-inch smart television, Dish TV connectivity, FM radio, digital clock, LED lighting, wall fans, and learning aids for both online and offline education.
To address the harsh desert conditions, the buses include portable study tables and seating, foldable outdoor shade nets, detachable blackboards and whiteboards, notice boards, purified drinking water systems, wash basins, water storage tanks, a dedicated teacher cabin, and library space. Recreational facilities such as Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, model clocks, swings, slides, and basketball equipment are also provided.
Health-monitoring features include digital weighing scales, height measurement systems, and BMI charts. Safety and hygiene measures include emergency exits, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, dustbins, and sanitisation kits. Educational graphics, artwork, national symbols, and learning displays have been installed inside and outside the vehicles.
Speaking at the launch, Sanghavi said the initiative demonstrated how unused GSRTC buses could be repurposed for public benefit. He noted that children of families engaged in salt production in desert regions would no longer need to travel long distances for education. 'The Ranshala is a very unique model. More than 20 children can study inside each bus, which is equipped with television and Dish TV facilities powered by solar energy. These children will also be able to benefit from online classes run by the Gujarat Government,' he said.
According to officials, the programme aims to reduce school dropout rates among children in Agariya and desert communities and minimise disruptions to education caused by seasonal migration. Of the 28 buses deployed, 20 have been allocated to Patdi taluka in Surendranagar district, with the remaining eight distributed across the other three districts.
