Location of the Eklavya Model Residential School
- Since 2000, thirteen EMRS schools have been operating in three phases in the tribal areas of Odisha. The following locations are mentioned: 1. Bhawanipur, Sundargarh 2. Dhanghera, Mayurbhanj 3. Pungar, Koraput 4. Kandhamal 5. Hirli, Nabarangpur 6. Siriguda, Rayagada 7. Gajapati 8. Ranki, Keonjhar 9. Laing, Sundargarh 10. Lahunipada, Sundargarh 11. Rampilo, Jajpur 12. Nuapada 13. Malkangiri
- In West Bengal, there are seven “Eklavya Model Residential Schools” operating in the districts of Bankura, Purulia, Burdwan, Paschim Medinipur, Jalpaiguri, Birbhum, and Dakshin Dinajpur with funding from the state government and the government of India.
- In the 2013–2014 academic year, two new EMRSs in Bolpur Santiniketan (Birbhum) and Buniadpur (Dakshin Dinajpur) began operations. In each school, there are 420 available seats. There are now 2072 students enrolled overall. Scholarships, free housing, and other benefits are offered to students accepted to these institutions.
Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS)
The government of India has a program called Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) that aims to build model residential schools for Scheduled Tribes (STs) throughout the country. Launched in 1997–1998 to guarantee that tribal children have access to quality education in remote tribal communities, it is one of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ signature initiatives. Each school can accommodate 480 children, ranging in class from sixth to twelfth. Candidates who are not members of the ST may fill 10% of the EMRS seats (which shall not exceed the total strength of 480). 367 EMRS are now operating in India. The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) was established as an independent body within the Ministry to offer general assistance and policy guidance to the schools and bring about uniformity in the management of the schools.