M/o Tribal Affairs has been setting up Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) for imparting quality education to tribal children in their own environment

Key Highlights

Every block having 50% or more ST population and at least 20,000 ST persons will have an EMRS. 

740 such blocks have been identified for setting up EMRSs 

As on date 367 EMRS are functional across the country. 

An EMRS has the capacity of accommodating 480 students including boys and girls, studying in class VI to XII 

Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been setting up Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) for imparting quality education to tribal children in their own environment in the remote areas across the country. An EMRS has the capacity of accommodating 480 students including boys and girls, studying in class VI to XII. An amount of Rs.1.09 lakhs per student per annum is released to meet the recurring expenditure on these students including food, uniform, books etc. For establishment of EMRSs, construction cost of Rs. 20.00 crore per school with an additional 20% for schools in North East, hilly areas, difficult areas and areas affected by Left Wing Extremism is released by the Ministry.

As per approved norms, every block having 50% or more ST population and at least 20,000 ST persons will have an EMRS.  740 such blocks have been identified. States/UTs have been given responsibility of providing land for  the school  in the identified block based on norms stated above.  As on date 367 EMRS are functional across the country.

This information was given by Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Smt. Renuka Singh Saruta in a reply in Rajya Sabha today.