New Delhi, Nov 20: The construction drive of Eklavya schools got a big boost after Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation of 50 schools on ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’ as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav on November 15 virtually from Bhopal.

These schools are being set up in 26 districts of seven states and one UT. 

Modi, while highlighting the importance of these schools, said that 740 Eklavya Model Residential Schools will be set up across India.   Each block with more than 50 per cent ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons will have such schools.  

Out of these 50 schools, 20 schools are located in Jharkhand, 15 in Odisha, four each in Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, three in Maharashtra, two in Madhya Pradesh and one each in Tripura and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. 

These schools are located in hilly and forest areas of the country and benefit children tribals inhabiting remotest areas of the country.