The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been implementing a central scheme which aims at establishing ashram schools in Tribal Sub Plan areas since 1990-91. Under the Tribal Sub Plan approach, a sub plan specifically related to tribal welfare is formulated for areas that have been defined as having a high concentration of tribal population.
       The intention behind the scheme has been to provide educational facilities for children from most disadvantaged families without any cost. In, UP 94 Ashram Schools have been approved, out of which 27 are for Girl’s , these include 9 ATSs being run by the Department of Tribal Welfare and the remaining being run by the Department of Social Welfare including 3 schools catering to children belonging to de-notified tribes. The Social Welfare Department runs Jai Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya Vidayalay previous name Ashram Type Schools (ATSs) for children belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (ST).
       With the objective of providing excellent residential education free of cost to the poor and talented students of rural and urban areas belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes/Vimukt Jatis in the state, 94 Government Ashram Schools are being run by the Social Welfare Department in the state. Along with education, the state government makes arrangements for free hostels, textbooks, uniforms and sports etc.
       Out of the above 94 Government Ashram Schools, 45 are from CBSE. The board and the remaining 49 are affiliated to the Board of Secondary Education, Uttar Pradesh Allahabad. Smart class system is in place in 94 Rajkiya Ashram system schools. Separate government ashram system schools are run for boys and girls. In 16 unserved districts, the process of construction of Rajkiya Ashram system school/Jai Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya Vidayalays is going on.
       Each school has sanctioned 490 seats. Admission procedure for the students has been revised in 2015 through entrance/selection test. Ashram Type Schools (ATS) now Jai Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya Vidayalay are being gradually subsumed under the umbrella of Central Board of Secondary Education from the academic year 2015-16. Ashram Type School is a scheme introduced to provide education for children in an environment conducive to learning.