Replying today an un-starred question of Shri P P Chaudhary and Smt Smita Udayawagh  the Union Minister of State For Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed Lok Sabha today that the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Tribal Affairs , has been established to manage and implement the scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in co-ordination with State EMRS Societies. NESTS have been undertaken several policy-level reforms to ensure standardisation and quality across all Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS). Key reforms include:

1. Standardised Infrastructure Norms – Development and implementation of uniform design and construction guidelines for EMRS campuses, hostels, and ancillary facilities to ensure parity in quality and amenities across States/UTs.
2. Model EMRS Guidelines – Issuance of comprehensive operational guidelines covering school governance, admission procedures, staffing norms, academic planning, and student welfare measures.
3. Centralised Recruitment Framework – Introduction of a structured recruitment process for teaching and non-teaching staff to ensure merit-based, transparent selection and uniform service conditions.
4. Curriculum and Pedagogy Alignment – Integration of CBSE-affiliated curriculum with region-specific contextual learning, along with adoption of digital learning tools and remedial education mechanisms.
5. Quality Assurance and Monitoring –Engagement of Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) and IITs as Third-party quality assurance agency for quality control and engagement of retired technical consultants for monitoring and supervision of construction of EMRSs.
6. Capacity Building Programmes – Regular training and professional development initiatives for principals, teachers, and administrative staff to maintain high teaching standards and effective school management.
7. Student-Centric Welfare Policies – Implementation of policies ensuring 100% free education, boarding, and lodging, as well as provisions for sports, co-curricular activities, and career guidance.
8. ICT Integration – Rollout of smart classrooms, digital content libraries, and management information systems (MIS) for academic, administrative, and financial tracking.

These reforms collectively aim to deliver a standardised, high-quality educational environment across all EMRSs, while addressing the specific needs of tribal students.

In the Union Budget 2018–19, the Government of India announced that, to provide quality education to tribal children in their own environment, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) would be established in every block with more than 50% Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per Census 2011). In addition to the 288 EMRSs sanctioned under Article 275(1), a further 440 EMRSs were proposed across the country, bringing the total to 728 EMRSs to be established nationwide. As of 31.07.2025, a total of 722 EMRSs have been sanctioned, of which 485 have been made functional.

The expansion of EMRSs directly benefits local tribal communities by providing free, high-quality, CBSE-affiliated education to children within or near their own environment. With well-equipped hostels, classrooms, laboratories, and sports facilities, EMRSs ensure holistic development, including academic, physical, and extracurricular growth of tribal students. In addition, students receive free boarding, nutritious meals, healthcare, and career guidance, contributing to their overall well-being and readiness for higher education and competitive careers. Collectively, these measures enhance educational attainment, promote social inclusion, and empower tribal communities economically and socially.

State-wise sanctioned and operational status of EMRSs, including Maharashtra, as on 31.07.2025, is as under:-

 

The construction cost of EMRSs is ₹37.80 crore in plain areas and ₹48 crore in hilly areas. The status of new EMRS building constructed in last three year including Maharashtra is as under:-

 

The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) released a recurring grant of ₹1,09,000 per student per annum till FY 2024-25 which has subsequently been revised to Rs. 1,47,062/- from FY 2025-26, towards the operational and maintenance expenses of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs). Overall Budget Estimate for F.Y. 2025-26 is Rs. 7088.60 Crore.

The enhanced financial support, coupled with standardised operational frameworks introduced by NESTS, has significantly strengthened the capacity of EMRSs to deliver high-quality, inclusive, and holistic education to Scheduled Tribe students. The increased per-student allocations and targeted capital investments have enabled improvements in infrastructure, staffing, academic resources, health and welfare facilities, and co-curricular programming. These measures have directly contributed to better learning environments, improved student well-being, and strengthened retention, particularly in remote and tribal-dominated districts.

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(Release ID: 2159068)