The Ministry of Tribal Affairs recently laid the foundation stone for an Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in Nashik, Maharashtra. This scheme, which aims to provide quality education to tribal students in remote areas, was initiated in 1997-98 and has since established 384 schools across the country. EMRS offers not only academic education but also focuses on the all-round development of its students.
Understanding Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)
Eklavya Model Residential Schools are part of an initiative by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to provide quality education to tribal students in India. These schools operate under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum and offer state-of-the-art facilities for preserving local art, culture, sports, and skill development.
EMRS was originally introduced in the year 1997-98 and there are currently 384 such operational schools across the country. The Eklavya Model Residential School in Shinde, Nashik, is designed with a special focus on serving the educational needs of nearby tribal communities.
Guidelines and Coverage of EMRS
According to the existing 2010 guidelines for EMRS, at least one school should be established in each Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) or Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) where the tribal population constitutes 50% of the total population.
The 2018-19 budget also proposed that by 2022, every block with over 50% tribal population and housing a minimum of 20,000 tribal people should have an Eklavya Model Residential School.
Objectives of Establishing EMRS
The primary objective of EMRS is comprehensive physical, mental, and socially relevant development of all students enrolled in these schools. They aim to transform students into change agents, shaping their schools, homes, villages, and broader communities.
Differentiated educational support is also provided to students in Standards XI and XII as well as those in Standards VI to X to address their specific needs. EMRS also strives to ensure reasonable remuneration for the staff and proper maintenance of the facilities, while also supporting the construction of infrastructure catering to the educational, physical, environmental, and cultural needs of student life.
Legal Provisions for Scheduled Tribes
Several legal provisions protect and uphold the rights of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India. The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, offers protection against untouchability, and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, prevents exploitation. Additionally, the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, safeguard tribal rights over their lands.
Other Initiatives Aimed at Supporting Scheduled Tribes
In addition to the establishment of Eklavya Model Residential Schools, several other initiatives are designed to aid the Scheduled Tribes in India. For instance, TRIFED supports the marketing of tribal products, and Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana aims to improve tribal livelihoods by harnessing forest wealth. Likewise, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes safeguards the interests of STs, and the Digital Transformation of Tribal Schools enhances digital literacy among tribal students.
Understanding Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
The Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category in 1973 to designate less developed tribal groups needing more funds for their development. Consequently, in 1975, the Government of India identified the most vulnerable tribal groups as Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
Seventy-five tribal groups have been categorized as PVTGs by the Ministry of Home Affairs. They are primarily found in 18 states and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. PVTGs are determined based on a pre-agriculture level of technology, stagnant or declining population, extremely low literacy, and subsistence-level economy.
