Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS):
The Tribal Affairs Ministry intends to go ahead with its plan to build a new EMRS, despite concerns raised by a Parliamentary panel.
- EMRS will be constructed on 15 acres of land in all sub-districts with Scheduled Tribe (ST) populations of more than 20,000 people, accounting for at least 50% of the total
- Earlier this year, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment suggested that this criterion be reviewed
- This is due to severe challenges in acquiring properties in several districts, particularly in forested or hilly places.
- This criterion would also deny scattered ST populations access to Eklavya schools.
- The Tribal Affairs Ministry started the EMRS in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas.
- The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of the students from Class VI to XII .
- It has been agreed that by 2022, every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal people will have an EMRS.
