Bhubaneswar, February 4: As many as 111 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) have been sanctioned for Odisha. Out of the 111 sanctioned EMRSs, only 47 schools are functional in the State. This was disclosed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Replying to an un-starred question raised by Niranjan Bishi regarding “Eklavya Model Residential Schools for Unserved Tribal Blocks in Odisha” in Rajya Sabha today, the Union Tribal Affairs Minister of State Drugadas Uikey informed that as per Guidelines of scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School, EMRSs have been approved in the blocks having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011).

“Accordingly, the Ministry has sanctioned 111 Eklavya Model Residential Schools in the State of Odisha,” said the Minister.

One each in Bolangir, Balasore, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Nuapada, five in Gajapati district, two each in Jharsuguda and Kalahandi, 10 in Kandhamal, eight in Keonjhar, 12 in Koraput district, six in Malkangiri, 23 in Mayurbhanj, eight in Nabarangpur, nine in Rayagada, four in Sambalpur, 16 in Sundergarh districts.

In response to another query, the Minister told the Upper House that out of the 111 sanctioned schools, 47 EMRSs are functional in Odisha.

The Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) was started in the year 2018-19 to provide quality education at par with Navodaya Vidyalaya to the tribal children in their own environment.

Under the new scheme, Government decided to establish 440 EMRSs, one EMRS in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011).

A total of 288 EMRS schools were initially funded under Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, which are being upgraded as per the new model. Accordingly, Ministry has set the target to set up total of 728 EMRSs benefiting around 3.5 lakh ST students across the country.