Replying to a starred question of Shri Sukant Kumar Panigrahi the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram laid a statement on the table of the house Lok Sabha today. He stated that the Government has taken significant steps to expand Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) across tribal districts including Kandhamal in Odisha. In the Union Budget of 2018–19, the Government of India announced the establishment of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) in every block with more than 50% Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, based on Census 2011 data. The EMRS scheme, originally launched in 1997–98, aims to provide quality education from Class 6 to 12 to ST students in remote areas, enabling them to access better educational opportunities and bridge the gap with the general population.

In addition to the 288 EMRSs sanctioned under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, 440 more schools have been proposed across the country, bringing the total number of approved EMRSs to 728.

In Kandhamal District, out of 12 blocks, a total of 10 EMRSs have been sanctioned. 2 EMRSs are functional. Construction of buildings has been completed for 2 EMRSs, work is in progress at 5 locations, and 3 locations are currently at the pre-construction stage.

Though the twin criteria is to be satisfied for approval of EMRS Schools in a block, no new Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) are under consideration, apart from those already approved by the Union Cabinet in 2018-19 and earlier EMRSs sanctioned under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, as the Ministry is currently focusing on the already approved 728 EMRSs only.

****

RN/

(Release ID: 2153504)