Malkangiri, Nov 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated 13 Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) projects across Odisha today, while foundation stone laying was taken up for three more school projects in Kandhamal district.

The Prime Minister virtually inaugurated the projects from Gadchirolli, Maharashtra.

The 13 schools are located in Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Sundargarh, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Koraput and Rayagada districts.

The schools include Bisoi and Jashipur in Mayurbhanj, Kosagumuda, Raighar and Umerkote in Nabarangpur, Bisra in Sundargarh, Tumudibandha in Kandhamal, Harichandanpur in Keonjhar, Boipariguda in Koraput, Saraskana in Mayurbhanj, and Ramnaguda, Kalyansingpur and Padmapur in Rayagada.

Meanwhile, three more EMRS projects at Daringbadi, K. Nuagaon and Kotagarh in Kandhamal district have been included for foundation stone laying.

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Local public representatives were present at the respective designated venues during the virtual inauguration and foundation stone laying programmes. The programmes were organised at designated locations by the respective district administration to facilitate the participation of local representatives and other stakeholders.

The initiatives are aimed at expanding residential educational infrastructure and improving access to quality education for tribal students across Odisha.