Why in news?

The Tribal Affairs Ministry intends to go ahead with its plan to build new Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) on 15 acres of land in all sub-districts which have Scheduled Tribe communities of more than 20,000 people, who make up at least 50% of their total population.

Hurdles to build schools for tribals:

• in hilly areas, Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas, and North-East India, finding a contiguous piece of land measuring 15-acres, as recommended, in areas where the population criteria is met, is becoming one of the most difficult tasks.

About Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)

• The EMRS model was first introduced in 1997-98 to provide quality education to tribal students with residential facilities in remote corners.
• The aim was to build schools at par with the Jawahar Navoday Vidyalayas and Kendriya Vidyalayas.
• Parent Ministry : Ministry of Tribal Affairs,
• Finance : With grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India.
• The government gives one time Rs30 lakh grant for establishing the school, thereafter up to Rs 30 lakh per school annually. Additional cost is borne by state government
• Educational authority : National Education Society for Tribal Students
• Chairman: Dharmendra Pradhan
• Grades: 6th –12^th standard
• Age range: 11–19 yrs

Objectives :

• Comprehensive physical, mental and socially relevant development of all students enrolled in each and every EMRS.
• Students will be empowered to be change agents, beginning in their school, in their homes, in their village and finally in a larger context.
• Support the annual running expenses in a manner that offers reasonable remuneration to the staff and upkeep of the facilities.
• Support the construction of infrastructure that provides education, physical, environmental and cultural needs of student life.