Mysuru: In the forested stretches of Chamarajanagar district, the Ashram School at Nakkundi has taken a long-awaited leap. Department of tribal affairs has upgraded the residential school in Hanur taluk to offer high school and pre-university education for children from vulnerable, forest-dwelling tribal communities.For families in a district where forests cover 48% of the landscape, the move brings rare relief. Of the 19 Ashram Schools in Chamarajanagar, Nakkundi is the only one cleared to offer PU courses from the 2026–27 academic year.State-run Ashram schools traditionally admitted Adivasi children from classes 1 to 5. A few began offering classes 8 to 10 from 2023–24, but PU education never followed, despite repeated appeals from tribal leaders. Many children dropped out after class 7 because of poor transport access to forest-fringe villages and other social constraints.The upgrade now opens a path for students across all 19 Ashram Schools to seek admissions from class 8 and continue through PU from 2026–27. Currently, 1,800 students study in these schools.Chamarajanagar district tribal welfare officer Bindya told TOI the PU upgrade “will benefit 1,800 students studying in 19 Ashram schools in Chamarajanagar district by enabling access to PU education.”The schools, located in remote forest-fringe villages, offer boarding and lodging, solar power, free education, uniforms, stationery, personal care items, and basic infrastructure such as classrooms, libraries, and playgrounds.“The upgradation of this school brought huge relief to vulnerable tribals. We demanded the govt introduce high school and PU education in a few Ashram schools of Chamarajanagar district, as most of those studying in such schools discontinued their education after class 7 due to various reasons. The state govt upgraded only Nakkundi,” said Madegowda, vice-president of Chamarajanagar Soliga Tribal Welfare Association.
