AI Labs on Wheels Roll Into Tribal Nagpur, 103 Village Libraries and Health Upgrades on the Way

AI labs on wheels and 103 village libraries: Nagpur Zilla Parishad moves to close learning gaps

Nagpur Zilla Parishad is launching AI Lab on Wheels to bring hands-on digital learning to tribal and rural students with limited internet access. Alongside this, the district is investing in ICT and science labs, and setting up 103 village libraries to build strong community learning spaces.

Speaking at a recent review, ZP CEO Vinayak Mahamuni outlined timelines, budgets, and parallel health initiatives that support students and families at the grassroots level.

AI Lab on Wheels: taking practical tech to remote classrooms

Two buses will serve as mobile AI and digital labs. The tender is initiated, with operations expected to start within a month.

• Six computers per bus
• Interactive dashboard
• VR headsets
• 3D printers

"These labs will ensure that even in areas where network access is limited, students can experience immersive AI and digital education," Mahamuni said.

ICT and science labs: funding and rollout

This year, Rs6.5 crore has been sanctioned under the DPC for ICT and science lab projects, following last year's Rs7 crore allocation.

• 13 ICT labs to improve teacher and student learning outcomes
• 3 science labs to be set up in the coming months

103 village libraries: building daily reading habits

Under a multi-department convergence plan, 103 modern libraries will open across villages. Each centre will serve 20-25 readers and stock about 7,000 books.

• Education Department: 52 libraries
• Samaj Kalyan: 22 libraries
• Thakkar Bappa Department: 29 libraries
• High-quality furniture via an MoU with IKEA
• CCTV surveillance, solar panels, and sanitation facilities

Health quality checks and nutrition support

Primary Health Centres and Sub-Centres are under state and central assessment to improve service efficiency. Of the 80 institutions assessed so far, 23 cleared the state-level evaluation and await central review.

• Centres meeting criteria will receive Rs3 lakh per PHC and Rs1.5 lakh per sub-centre
• A pilot for children under MAM/SAM covers 453 children in Ramtek and Kamptee
• Anganwadi Sevikas will receive Rs50 per child per day for this pilot
• Parallel efforts include Super 40 Anganwadis and AI Anganwadis

What this means for educators

• Plan short, high-impact sessions for the mobile lab: basic AI concepts, safe use of VR, and simple 3D design-to-print workflows.
• Use offline-friendly content so learning continues without network dependency. The DIKSHA platform offers downloadable resources.
• Create a rotating timetable so multiple schools and grades benefit when the bus visits your cluster.
• Align science lab activities with curriculum units-simple experiments that transition into digital simulations on the bus.
• Turn the new libraries into active learning hubs: daily 20-minute reading blocks, weekly student-led book circles, and teacher-curated theme shelves.
• Track student engagement with quick checklists-VR sessions completed, 3D prints produced, books borrowed, and vocabulary gains.
• Coordinate with Anganwadi workers for early-years readiness-story hours at libraries and parent orientation on nutrition days.

Where to upskill for AI-ready teaching

If you're building lesson plans for VR, 3D printing, or AI literacy, upskilling helps you move faster with less trial-and-error. Explore practical course paths by job role here:

• AI courses by job

What to do this month

• Nominate a school point person for the AI Lab on Wheels and coordinate schedules with your cluster head.
• Prepare offline lesson packs for the bus visit: worksheets, reading prompts, and a simple 3D model file per group.
• Draft a library usage plan: daily reading slots, lending rules, and a basic catalog (even a shared spreadsheet works).
• Share health and nutrition updates in morning assemblies so families know about services and support available.

With AI labs on wheels, new ICT and science labs, 103 libraries, and stronger health support, ZP Nagpur is laying the groundwork for consistent learning-regardless of location or bandwidth. The next step is local execution: clear schedules, teacher readiness, and steady use of these assets.