PM Narendra Modi assures funds for Bapu’s Rashtriya Shala

RAJKOT: Rashtriya Shala, the school founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 that closed down two months back due to lack of funds, will soon become operational once again.

After TOI reported on September 28 about the school’s closure since July for lack of funds, the school trustees were called upon by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday during his visit to Rajkot for inauguration of the Mahatma Gandhi Museum built at the Alfred High School.

Sources said that the PM has assured the trustees of adequate funds under Gandhiji’s 150th birth year celebrations to help resume educational activities at the Rashtriya Shala.

According to sources, after the inauguration of the museum, Rashtriya Shala’s trustees Jitu Bhatt and Jayantibhai Kalaria and managing trustee of Kaba Gandhi No Delo, Heliben Trivedi met the PM.

“A day before PM’s visit, I got a call from the chief minister’s office saying that the PM wanted to meet us after he heard about our financial problems,” said Bhatt.

“The PM has assured us the required funds under the Gandhi circuit to rejuvenate activities under the Rashtriya Shala including basic schooling,” he added.

The school trustees also handed over PM a copy of the letter which they had submitted to chief minister Vijay Rupani on August 28 requesting funds to the tune of Rs 8 crore to renovate the school, guest house, laser show, heritage entrance and Rang Darshan (auditorium), which has the capacity to accommodate 5,000 people. The Rashtriya Shala trust premises is spread over 13-acre land.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Shala trust also got offers from some corporates for donations.

“A representative of a Chennai-headquartered bank came to our office and offered to provide Rs 10 lakh per year to meet the running cost of the school. We are studying the terms and conditions of the proposal,” said Bhatt.