CJP to launch tribal school campaign in Gadchiroli on September 17

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will launch a campaign aimed at improving facilities in tribal schools from Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district on September 17, founder Abhijeet Dipke said on Wednesday.

The initiative, titled “Adivasi School Thik Karo”, will focus on infrastructure gaps and limited access to educational facilities affecting students in tribal regions.

Announcing the campaign at a press conference, Dipke alleged that tribal schools had been neglected by successive governments. He said CJP representatives would visit schools, inspect their infrastructure and facilities, and highlight problems affecting students.

CJP flags infrastructure gaps in tribal schools

Dipke said schools in tribal regions across India had been neglected by governments over the past 80 years. He raised concerns about schools operating from rented buildings, inadequate facilities and insufficient attention to students in tribal belts.

The campaign will involve inspections of tribal schools to identify gaps and draw attention to the conditions in which students are studying.

Dipke also alleged that more than 590 tribal students had died in Maharashtra over the past two years. He claimed that several deaths were linked to incidents such as snakebites and alleged that families of deceased students did not always receive adequate compensation.

He further raised concerns over Eklavya Model Residential Schools, claiming that 477 of the 720 schools were non-functional. These figures were presented by Dipke during the press conference.

Dipke also cited concerns over the participation of tribal students in higher education. He claimed that Scheduled Tribe students accounted for 22.8% of enrolment in higher education and that only 130 ST applicants had secured admission to IITs.

Recent reports have also highlighted Dipke's focus on tribal education. Earlier this month, he met tribal students protesting in Nashik over conditions at residential schools, where students raised concerns about food, toilets, safety and educational facilities.

Campaign expands CJP’s school initiative

The Gadchiroli drive comes about a month after CJP launched its nationwide “School Thik Karo” campaign to improve government schools in rural and urban areas.

Dipke had called on parents, sarpanches and local communities to take responsibility for improving basic facilities in schools. The campaign began with a visit to a government school in his native village of Santuk Pimpri in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district.

CJP representatives have since carried out school visits in several areas. In August, Dipke visited government schools in Maharashtra to inspect classrooms, benches, drinking water facilities and other basic infrastructure. The organisation also announced school inspections in Rajasthan after receiving requests from several districts.

Dipke had also urged ministers, MLAs and MPs to experience the difficulties faced by rural students, including long journeys to schools in remote areas.

CJP seeks details on repairs and teacher vacancies

As part of its wider campaign, CJP had sought information from state education ministers on school repairs, teacher vacancies, government funding, digital learning facilities, toilets and sports infrastructure.

In an earlier letter, Dipke said government schools continued to lack basic facilities such as safe drinking water, functional washrooms, proper classrooms and benches.

The organisation has also raised concerns about the condition of tribal residential schools. During his recent interaction with tribal students in Nashik, Dipke highlighted concerns over drinking water, toilets, beds and other basic facilities.

The Gadchiroli campaign will now focus specifically on tribal schools and students. Dipke is also scheduled to interact with tribal students in Nagpur later on Wednesday.