EKLAVYA MODEL SCHOOL (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Government Schemes)

Context: The President of India, recently inaugurated an Eklavya Model Residential School at Kuliana, district Mayurbhanj, Odisha.

Eklavya Model Residential School

• About: The EMRS model was initially introduced in 1997-98 with the primary goal of providing quality education to tribal students.
• Aim: To offer residential facilities in remote corners, addressing the educational needs of tribal communities.
• Established Institutions: The overarching objective was to establish schools that matched the standards of Jawahar Navoday Vidyalayas and Kendriya Vidyalayas. 

oThis strategic approach aimed at ensuring that tribal students received education at par with their non-tribal counterparts.

• Holistic Development Focus: EMRS schools were designed to go beyond traditional academic education. 
• School Capacity: Each EMRS has a specific capacity, accommodating up to 480 students. 
• Range: These schools catered to students spanning from Class VI to XII, covering a crucial phase in their educational journey.
• Funding Mechanism: The funding for EMRS schools was intended to be sourced from grants under Article 275(1), charged to the Consolidated Fund of India. 

oThese grants were allocated annually as aids to support the functioning and development of these educational institutions.

• Guidelines and State Discretion: Only specify the infrastructural requirement of 20-acre plots for each school. However, other criteria, such as specific operational details, were left to the discretion of State governments, allowing flexibility in implementation.