Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda along with Welfare Minister Champai Soren and Chaibasa MP Geeta Koda during foundation laying stone ceremony of Eklavya Residential School in Seraikela-Kharsawan on Saturday. The school will provide free education and hostel facilities to 480 tribes students.
Addressing the gathering, Munda said that the Centre is opening these schools at block level to enhance education levels in tribal-dominated areas. “ The schools will play a key role in the development of tribals . It is important to provide the best care and education to students. It is our responsibility to give them proper upbringing and good moral values,” he noted.
He also said along with education, sports would be given priority. He also motivated the tribals to take Covid vaccine and don’t pay any heed to rumours. It may be noted that Eklavya Schools were started in 1997-98 to provide education from primary to 12th level for Scheduled Tribe students (Class 6th to 12th). The objective behind this was to enable them to reach the best.
Meanwhile, on July 4, Munda will also lay the foundation stone of Eklavya Vidyalaya at Hatiapata village of Gudabandha block of East Singhbhum at 12.30 pm and at Ghordhuan in Dhalbhumgarh at 3.30 pm.
Welfare Minister Champai Soren said that the State Government is working hard to ensure that the ongoing development projects help the villagers reap benefits at the grass root level.
He reiterated that Eklavya schools would be a boon for the villagers and it would help to tap the raw talent present among the tribals and help them to excel in the sporting arena.
Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) is a Government of India scheme for model residential schools for Indian tribals (ST, Scheduled Tribes) across India. It is one of the flagship interventions of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India and was introduced in the year 1997-98 to ensure tribal students get access to quality education in the remote tribal areas.
The government gives one time Rs 30 lakh grant for establishing the school, thereafter up to Rs 30 lakh per school annually. The additional cost is borne by state governments. There are around 226 such residential schools presently functional across the country.
Eklavya residential schools in Jharkhand will be developed as a Centre for Excellence on the lines of Navodaya Vidyalaya.