Replying to a question in Lok Sabha today the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed that Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) for providing quality education to tribal students in their own environment preserving local art and culture. EMRS are established in tribal dominated blocks having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, as per Census 2011. As on date, 728 EMRSs have been approved out of which 508 are functional across the country.

Various steps have been undertaken to enhance the quality of education and extra-curricular activities in EMRSs across the country viz. well-equipped classrooms with modern teaching aids, bridge courses, remedial classes science and computer laboratories, libraries with diverse learning resources, playgrounds and sports equipment, facilities for extracurricular activities like music, art, and sports, smart classrooms for digital education, computer labs with internet access, skill development and vocational training programs on apparel, Automotive, AR/VR, AI, Beauty & Wellness, Agriculture, Electronics, and retail to enhance employability, etc.

To strengthen digital learning in EMRSs, smart classrooms, digital boards, computer labs with internet connectivity, and a dedicated DTH TV have been provided. Eklavya channel provides curriculum-based learning and competitive exam content for Classes 9th to 12th, ensuring continuous access to quality educational resources. At present there are 284 Smart classrooms in EMRSs across the country including the blocks of Sohagpur, Jaitpur, Anuppur and Umaria located in Shahdol Lok Sabha Constituency.

Further, National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) continuously follows up with the State Governments and the execution agencies to expedite construction of EMRSs and to make them functional at the earliest. Besides, State Governments have also been advised to make the EMRS functional in alternate buildings, wherever feasible.

To strengthen the governance, management and operation of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), various institutional reforms have been taken such as;

• Establishment of National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) as an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to provide overall policy direction, academic support, monitoring, capacity building, recruitment, standardization of processes and implementation of the EMRS Scheme across the country;
• State EMRS Societies to oversee the implementation, administration and day-to-day management of EMRSs within their jurisdictions;
• District Level EMRS Committees, under the Chairmanship of the District Collector/District Magistrates to strengthen local oversight and resolve local implementation issues.
• Comprehensive operational guidelines and circulars covering academic administration, financial management, procurement, student welfare, health and safety, hostel management, and grievance redressal to ensure uniform standards across all EMRSs.
• Centralized recruitment mechanism through the EMRS Staff Selection Examination (ESSE) has been instituted to ensure the appointment of qualified and competent teaching and non-teaching personnel across EMRSs.
• Structured induction programmes, regular in-service training, and continuous capacity-building initiatives to enhance professional competencies and strengthen institutional effectiveness.

• In order to provide timely funds to EMRSs, NESTS is releasing recurring grant directly to the schools.

These institutional reforms have strengthened accountability, coordination, monitoring and thereby improving overall management of EMRSs.The State-wise details of sanctioned, operational and construction status of EMRSs, including Odisha, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, are at Annexure I.

The details of sanctioned, operational and construction status of EMRSs in Keonjhar and Shahdol Parliament Constituency are at Annexure II.

None of the blocks in Araria Lok Sabha Constituency fulfill the prescribed criteria for establishing EMRS.

(e): Enrollment of students in the EMRSs situated in Keonjhar Lok Sabha constituency:

Total fund released for EMRS scheme to State of Odisha during last 5 years is Rs. 2254.71 Crore.

To address the issue of vacancies, 9111 teaching & non -teaching staff have already been recruited and examination has been conducted for another batch of 7267 teaching & non -teaching staff for EMRSs across the country. Total 514 teaching staff have been posted in EMRSs across Odisha in first phase of recruitment including 59 teaching staff in EMRSs in Keonjhar Lok Sabha constituency. In addition, State Governments have also been advised to depute staff on deputation and contract basis to address the issue of vacancies so that academic activities are not hampered.

EMRSs are well equipped with modern design with separate Boys’ and Girls’ Hostels, integrated dining and kitchen facilities, quarters for teaching and non-teaching staff, well-ventilated classrooms with modern teaching aids, science and computer laboratories, libraries with diverse learning resources, playgrounds and sports equipment, facilities for extracurricular activities like music, art and sports to preserve local art and culture.

Annexure I

regarding “ STRENGTHENING AND EXPANSION OF EMRSs”

State wise status of EMRSs as on 30^th June 2026

Annexure II

regarding “ STRENGTHENING AND EXPANSION OF EMRSs”

 

The Status of sanctioned, operational and under construction EMRSs in Keonjhar and Shahdol Parliament Constituency

S. No.	Parliament Constituency	State	District	Block/ Taluka	Functioning Status	Construction Status
Keonjhar Parliament Constituency
1	Keonjhar	Odisha	Kendujhar	Bamebari (Joda)	Non Functional	Pre-Construction Stage
2	Keonjhar	Odisha	Kendujhar	Baria (Jhumpura)	Non Functional	Pre-Construction Stage
3	Keonjhar	Odisha	Kendujhar	Champua	Functional	Completed
4	Keonjhar	Odisha	Kendujhar	Ghatgaon	Non Functional	Completed
5	Keonjhar	Odisha	Kendujhar	Harichandanpur	Non Functional	Completed
6	Keonjhar	Odisha	Kendujhar	Kendujhar Sadar	Functional	Completed
7	Keonjhar	Odisha	Kendujhar	Nayakote (Banspal)	Non Functional	Completed
8	Keonjhar	Odisha	Kendujhar	Patana	Functional	Completed
9	Keonjhar	Odisha	Kendujhar	Saharapada	Non Functional	Completed
10	Keonjhar	Odisha	Kendujhar	Telkoi	Non Functional	Completed
11	Keonjhar	Odisha	Mayurbhanj	Karanjia	Functional	Completed
12	Keonjhar	Odisha	Mayurbhanj	Thakurmunda	Functional	Completed
Shahdol Parliament Constituency
S.No.	Parliament Constituency	State	District	Block/ Taluka	Functioning Status	Construction Status
1	Shahdol	Madhya Pradesh	Shahdol	Shahdol	Functional	In Progress
2	Shahdol	Madhya Pradesh	Shahdol	Sohagpur	Functional	Completed
3	Shahdol	Madhya Pradesh	Shahdol	Jaitpur	Functional	Completed
4	Shahdol	Madhya Pradesh	Anuppur	Jaitahari	Functional	Completed
5	Shahdol	Madhya Pradesh	Anuppur	Pushparajgarh	Functional	In Progress
6	Shahdol	Madhya Pradesh	Umaria	Pali (MP)	Functional	Completed

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RN

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