The VHP's eighth Dharma Sansad, which is being held here from February 5, is also likely to take up the socio-religious retrieval and upbringing of the tribals.

VHP's secretary in charge of Gujarat and Rajasthan, Mahendra Bhatt, who is looking after the project, said at least one such school would be set up in each village in the tribal belt. To be run by VHP-trained tribal youth, the school will teach rhymes, local sports and, above all, ``the Hindu way of life'' up to Standard III. Each school is expected to incur an annual cost of Rs 10,000. Their administration will be in charge of gramsamitis, while full-time supervisors will be expected to keep an eye on the functioning of schools in 10 villages each.

The focus will be on the tribal areas. ``This is necessary if we have to save the tribals from being misguided and influenced by foreign missionaries... If we don't reach them, either the Naxalites or the missionaries will'', he said. Some 60 Ekal Vidyalayas will start functioning in the Dediapada and Sagbara talukas of Bharuch district from March this year, Bhatt said, adding that another 90 -- 30 each in Songadh, Mandvi and Nizar talukas of Surat district -- would come up in the next six months.

Asked why they were focusing only on the tribal areas, Bhatt said, ``We're also going to remote areas like Kutch and backward areas like Banaskantha.'' To give the concept a missionary touch, local volunteers will be given first-aid boxes and training in first-aid.

Though the vidyalayas won't be seeking Government recognition, Bhatt doesn't see that as a drawback. ``We'll request the localschool authorities to induct these children into their institutions after a direct examination. We'll also talk to the Education Department on this'', he said.