Union Budget announced that recruitment of 38,800 teachers and support staff for 740 Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
About Eklavya Model Residential Scheme (EMRS)
- Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) is a central sector scheme which aims to provide quality education to Scheduled Tribes students from Class 6 to Class 12 in remote areas to enable them to access the best opportunities in education and bring them at par with the general population.
- Government plans to establish one EMRS in every block with more than 50% Scheduled Tribe population and at least 20,000 tribal population as per 2011 census, subject to availability of suitable land to be provided by State Government
- In blocks, where density of ST population is higher than 90%, Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS) can be set up on an experimental basis for providing additional scope for ST students seeking to avail school education without residential facility.
- These schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of students. These schools have special facilities for preserving local art & culture besides providing training in sports and skill development.
- Each school has a capacity of 480 students and is on par with Navodaya Schools.
- This scheme is administered by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
- States can also run EMRS in alternative buildings preferably in Government buildings till the construction of schools is completed.
- Education is provided free of cost to tribal students in EMRS.
- Funding of schools:
- Centre provides capital cost for setting up of school complex, including hostels and staff quarters. The cost has been revised upward to Rs. 37.80 crores in plain areas and Rs. 48 crores in Northeast, Hilly areas and LWE affected areas.
- Recurring cost up to Rs 1.09 lakh per year student is paid for running of schools and towards expenses of students (uniform, books & stationery, food etc.)
- Funds are released by Ministry of Tribal Affairs to National Educational Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) for implementation of this scheme. NESTS further releases funds to State Societies and Construction Agencies etc. as per their requirements.
Also read: What is Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund?
Current Status
- A total of 740 EMRSs are scheduled to be established across the country by 2025-26, out of which 690 schools have already been sanctioned and 401 EMRSs are operational.