MUMBAI: The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded that the Maharashtra government immediately releases funds for the ashram shalas meant for the Scheduled Caste community in Mumbai. An AAP press release said there are 322 such ashramshalas in Mumbai with a staff of around 4,000 and 50,000 students. These are currently being run with aid from local non-governmental organisations. "Till date, they have been subjected to numerous inspections but have not been allotted the funds which they were promised. It is shocking how governments after governments launch schemes to supposedly uplift the poor but after the launch these schemes are abandoned," said the AAP press release. In 2003 Ashramshalas were started across Maharashtra for children belonging to scheduled castes. These were to be funded by the Central Government. In 2010 it was decided that these will be funded by the state government. However, it has been 14 years but these ashramshalas have not received any funds - and the BJP government that is building statues, sanctioning funds for large scale infrastructure projects, building smart cities claims it has no money to support these ashramshalas. "Around 300 members of the 'Kendriya Anusuchit Jaati Nivaasi Ashramshala Shikshak v Shikshakitar Karamchari Sangh' are protesting in Azad Maidan since April 14. The government has turned a deaf ear to their demands. Also three persons are on a fast unto death but they have received no attention or assurance from the anti-Dalit BJP government," said an AAP press release. A delegation on Wednesday met minister for social justice Rajkumar Badole. Though it is well within his purview, Badole has claimed helplessness, added the press release.

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AAP demands immediate release of funds for SC Ashram Shalas in ... - Times of India