Central Govt. to set up 728 Eklavya Model Residential School

The Union Government has made a significant commitment to providing quality education to tribal children through the expansion of the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS). The goal is to establish 440 new schools, ensuring that each block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal individuals, based on the 2011 census, benefits from these institutions. The EMRS initiative aligns with the government’s objective of providing high-quality education to tribal students, akin to the facilities provided by Navodaya Vidyalayas, in their own environment. The scheme, which began in 2018-19, will ultimately create a total of 728 EMRSs, benefiting around 3.5 lakh students across India.

Key Highlights of the EMRS Initiative

Educational Infrastructure

• Well-equipped classrooms with modern teaching aids.
• Science and computer laboratories for hands-on learning.
• Libraries offering a diverse range of learning resources.

Accommodation and Amenities

• Residential facilities for both students and staff.
• Separate hostels for boys and girls with essential amenities such as bedding, furniture, and hygiene facilities.

Sports and Extracurricular Facilities

• Playgrounds and sports equipment for physical activities.
• Facilities for extracurricular activities like music, art, and sports to ensure holistic development.

Health and Nutrition

• Regular health check-ups and medical facilities to maintain student well-being.

IT and Digital Learning

• Smart classrooms with digital boards for enhanced learning experiences.
• Computer labs with internet access to integrate digital education into the curriculum.

Vocational Training

• Skill development programs to provide hands-on training in industry-relevant areas, improving employability.

Collaborative Initiatives to Enhance Learning

Digital Education

• Establishment of smart classrooms with digital boards in partnership with ERNET and MeitY.
• Provision of online coaching for IIT-JEE and NEET exams in collaboration with PACE-IIT & Medical.

Skill Labs

• Setting up 400 Skill Labs in 200 EMRSs in partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE).

National Scholarships for ST Students

• Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships for students from Class IX to higher education.
• National Scholarship Scheme and National Fellowship for Higher Education, enabling ST students to pursue graduate, post-graduate, M.Phil, and Ph.D. programs.

Financial Support

• Coverage of application fees for national-level exams like JEE, NEET, and CLAT for EMRS students studying in Class XII, reducing the financial burden on families.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	Central Govt. to set up 728 Eklavya Model Residential School
Target	EMRSs 440 new EMRSs, bringing the total to 728, to serve around 3.5 lakh ST students
Location Criteria	One school in every block with 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal individuals
Educational Infrastructure	Modern classrooms, science/computer labs, libraries with diverse learning resources
Accommodation	Separate hostels for boys and girls with essential amenities
Sports & Extracurricular	Playgrounds, sports equipment, and facilities for music, arts, and sports
Health & Nutrition	Regular health check-ups and medical facilities
Digital Learning	Smart classrooms, computer labs, and internet access for enhanced education
Vocational Training	Skill development and vocational training programs
Collaborative Initiatives	Partnership with MeitY for smart classrooms, PACE-IIT for online coaching, MoSDE for skill labs
Scholarship Schemes	Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, and National Fellowship for Higher Education of ST students
Financial Support for Exams	Coverage of application fees for exams like JEE, NEET, CLAT for EMRS students