New Delhi : 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.
Under the Eklavya Model Residential School Scheme, a recurring cost of Rs 1.09 lakh per student per year is paid for running the schools and for the expenses of the students (uniforms, books and stationery, food etc.). States have also been advised to run these schools in alternative buildings, preferably government buildings, until the construction of the school buildings is complete. Till date, 690 Eklavya Model Residential Schools have been approved for establishment and education is being imparted in 401 Eklavya Model Residential Schools across the country, in which 113275 students are enrolled in these Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
Under the Eklavya Model Residential School Scheme, funds are released by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to an autonomous society, the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), for the implementation of the scheme and the National Education Society for Tribal Students, in turn, to the State Committees and Releases funds to construction agencies etc. as per their requirements. Funds were being released as a component under Article 275(1) of the Constitution for this scheme to the states including Rajasthan till the year 2019-20. Separate funds have been allocated for the Eklavya Model Residential School Scheme from the year 2020-21.
The government has announced the recruitment of 38,800 teachers and support staff for 740 Eklavya Model Residential Schools serving 3.5 lakh tribal students in the Budget 2023-24. Accordingly, the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has finalized the action plan and is taking further appropriate action to start the recruitment process in a phased manner.
This reply was given by the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Smt. Renuka Singh Saruta in the Lok Sabha today.