EKLAVYA MODEL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Social Issues/Education)

Context: The centralization of recruitment for Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) now mandates Hindi competency, leading to a surge in transfer requests nationwide. This policy change has sparked significant concern among staff.

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)

• About: A scheme for making model residential schools for Indian tribals (ST- Scheduled Tribes) across India.
• Origin: It started in the year 1997-98.
• Objective: To impart quality education to tribal students, with an emphasis on not only academic education but the all-around development of tribal students.
• Nodal Ministry:  Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Implementing agency: National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS). 
• Coverage:

o EMRS Guidelines of 2010: At least one EMRS is to be set up in each Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) / Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) having 50% ST population in the area.

o Budget 2018-19 announcement: Every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, will have an Eklavya Model Residential School by the year 2022.

ü These are being set up by grants provided under Article 275(1) of the Constitution.

• Features: Each school has a capacity of 480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII.

o 10% of the seats of EMRS can be filled up by non-ST candidates (shall not exceed the total strength of 480).

National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS)

• About: An autonomous organization that was established under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA).
• Objective: To establish, endow, maintain, control, and manage the schools and to do all acts and things necessary for or conducive to the promotion of such schools. 
• Governance: Function through an Executive Committee under the Chairmanship of the Secretary, Tribal Affairs.
• Target: NESTS and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs have set up targets to complete the construction of a total of 452 new schools and the pending 67 schools under its old scheme by the year 2025.