The scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) is being implemented as a central sector scheme to provide quality education to Scheduled Tribes (ST) students (Class 6th to 12th) in remote areas to enable them to access the best opportunities in education and to bring them at par with the general population. Government has decided to establish one EMRS in every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons ( as per 2011 census) subject to availability of suitable land to be provided by the State Government. EMRSs are intended to provide good quality education to tribal students, free of cost in their own environment. The capital cost for setting up the school complex, including hostels and staff quarters has been revised from Rs 20.00 crores to Rs. 37.80 crore in plain areas from Rs. 24.00 Crores to Rs. 48.00 crore in North East, hilly areas and LWE affected areas.

 Recurring cost upto Rs. 1.09 lakh per year per student is paid for running of the schools and towards expenses of the students (uniform, books & stationary, food etc.)States have also been advised to run schools in alternative buildings preferably in Government Buildings till the construction of schools is completed. As on date, 690 schools have been sanctioned and 401 EMRS have been made functional across the country with 113275 students enrolled in these EMRSs.

Under the scheme of EMRS, funds are released by the Ministry to an autonomous society, National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) for implementation of the scheme and NESTS further releases funds to State Societies and Construction Agencies etc. as per their requirements. Upto the year 2019-20, funds were being released to states including Rajasthan for this scheme under Grants under Article 275 (1) of the constitution as one of the components. From the year 2020-21 onwards, separate allocation has been made for EMRS scheme.

Government in Budget 2023-24 has made announcement of recruitment of 38,800 teachers and support staff for the 740 Eklavya Model Residential Schools, serving 3.5 lakh tribal students. In pursuance of this, National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has finalized the action plan and is taking further appropriate action to initiate the recruitment process in a phased manner.

This reply was given by Minister of state for Tribal Affairs Smt. Renuka Singh Saruta in Lok Sabha today.

 

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