Transforming Tribal Education: Vice President Highlights Eklavya Model Schools on Tribal Pride Day

New Delhi, November 15 (Daily Kiran) : On November 15, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan celebrated Tribal Pride Day by publishing an article titled “Transforming Tribal Education: From Eklavya to Excellence.” In his piece, he emphasized the transformative role of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in empowering tribal children through quality education and skill development.

Radhakrishnan stated, “Educating a child is not just about shaping their future; it involves bringing change to families, empowering communities, and building a progressive nation.” He reflected on his experiences serving in tribal regions of Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Telangana, where he has consistently advocated for enhanced tribal education. He urged universities to connect students with the “School Connect” program to ensure no child is left behind.

As India forges ahead in various sectors, EMRS is quietly reshaping the educational landscape for tribal children. These residential schools are established within tribal communities, focusing on holistic development. The EMRS initiative provides institutional support, quality education, and opportunities for children to realize their dreams.

The Vice President noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, EMRS has gained momentum. He highlighted that the program, launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, was expanded in the 2018-19 Union Budget, aiming to establish EMRS in blocks with over 50% Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and at least 20,000 tribal residents. This initiative has brought CBSE-affiliated education to remote areas that previously lacked such facilities.

Radhakrishnan pointed out that unlike other schools, where only 7.5% of seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, EMRS schools have at least 90% of their students from tribal communities, with 50% of seats reserved for girls. Admission is granted through a state-level entrance exam, prioritizing local students.

The development of EMRS can be understood in two phases. The first phase, from 1997 to 2018, approved 288 schools but faced several structural challenges. The EMRS 2.0 initiative, launched in 2018, aims to address the shortcomings of previous educational models for tribal children. This year, the EMRS 3.0 program has also commenced.

Under EMRS 2.0, 440 new schools have been approved for tribal blocks, contingent upon having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal residents. Initially, the capital cost per school was set at ₹20 crore for plain areas and ₹24 crore for northeastern and hilly regions. This amount has since increased to ₹37.80 crore and ₹48 crore, respectively. For the financial year 2026-2027, the maximum annual expenditure per student is capped at ₹1,47,356.

Currently, there are 172,952 students enrolled in EMRS, with 84,636 boys and 88,317 girls. Odisha leads with 114 approved schools, followed by Jharkhand (91), Chhattisgarh (75), Madhya Pradesh (71), and Gujarat (47). Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have the highest enrollment numbers, with 28,884 and 26,857 students, respectively.

Radhakrishnan expressed pride in EMRS students gaining admission to prestigious institutions like IITs and AIIMS. He mentioned Rohit, an IIT Roorkee graduate now working as a data scientist with Barclays in London. The successes of Neema Doma Bhutia in the Indian women’s basketball team and the impressive academic achievements of students from particularly vulnerable tribal groups reinforce the message that tribal children can dream big, excel, and emerge as confident leaders and innovators.