Many schools under the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) scheme, which was started in 1997-98, are yet to be completed even after more than two decades, a Parliamentary panel has pointed out.

The project was launched to impart quality education to Scheduled Tribes  (ST) children in remote areas to enable them avail of opportunities in high and professional educational courses and get employment in various sectors.

Of the 288 schools sanctioned in 1997-98, only 244 schools could be made functional. A data furnished by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment showed that  the construction work of only 202 schools has been completed till date and the construction work of 20 schools is yet to begin, whereas  construction work of 66 schools is targeted to be completed by  October, 2024.

The data showed that the original target, which aimed that 452 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) including  12 Eklavya Model Day Boarding School (EMDBS) would be set up in the remaining 462 sub-districts by the year 2022 is nowhere near completion and the target year stands revised as  2025 now.

“Out of 452 schools proposed to be sanctioned as per the phasing plan  between 2018-2019 to 2021-2022, only 350 schools could be  sanctioned and the remaining 102 schools are remaining to be  sanctioned as the location for these schools is yet to be finalised. The construction work of only 100 schools could begin till date whereas the construction work of 332 schools is to begin by March 2022,  which has just passed", the data showed.

The  Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, headed by Rama Devi, tabled its report on Friday, it is disappointing that very few schools have their own buildings as only 20 schools have been made functional from  own buildings. 103 schools are functioning from alternate  buildings since 2018-19 till 2021-22.

The report said that the Committee was quite apprehensive with regard to the achievement of target even by March 2025 as construction of 252 schools is yet to begin. The  Committee have been made to believe by the Ministry that after  establishment of National Educational Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) on revamping of the Scheme.

“The Committee are surprised to note that 3 States namely Bihar, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have still not signed MoU and are reluctant to shift to CBSE Board and are insisting on continuation of State Board Curriculum in the schools set up in their States whereas the norms stipulate that all the EMRSs set up are to be affiliated with CBSE in order to grant better sum per child studying in these schools,” the report said.