PM Modi To Launch Revamped Eklavya School Scheme; Odisha To Benefit

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the revamped Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) programme on September 12.

Under this initiative, 462 EMRS will be set up in Odisha, Jharkhand and North Eastern States in the next two years. These schools will be modelled after Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Schools, with focus on the quality outcome.

At present, there are 102 blocks where EMRSs are functioning.

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda on Monday said that the new scheme will be launched from Ranchi by the PM.

Eligible blocks:
Under the revamped programme, the blocks with more than 50 per cent of ST population and at least 20,000 tribals will be eligible for a school.

What does the revamped scheme envisage:

• The new scheme envisages an increase in construction cost of EMRS from current Rs12 crore to Rs 20 crore to improve the construction quality and ensure better facilities for the students.
• Recurring cost per student to be enhanced to Rs 1.09 lakh per annum from the existing Rs 61,500 from 2019-20 onwards.
• A total of 480 students from Class VI to XII will be imparted education in each school.
• There will be an Autonomous Society under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs similar to Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti to run the EMRSs.
• The already sanctioned EMRSs will be upgraded on need basis with unit cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 5 crore per school.
• Setting up sports facilities in 163 tribal-dominated districts at a unit cost of Rs 5 crore each by 2022.
• Financial provisions for 15 sports facilities during 2018-19 and 2019-20 has been agreed to.
• Enhancing the grants for maintenance which are admissible every five years from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.