The Central government has sanctioned 35 Eklavya Model Residential Schools for Meghalaya. However, till date none of them have started to function.
This was revealed in a reply tabled by Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram in the Lok Sabha on August 7.
The Eklavya schools that have been sanctioned in 2018-18 include those in the blocks of Mawkynrew, Nongstoin, Mawkyrwat, Umsning, Khliehriat, Laskein, Kharkutta, Rongara, Amlarem, Songsak, Tikrikilla, Zikzak, DamboRongjeng.
At present, a total number of 708 Eklavya Model Residential Schools have been sanctioned across the country, out of which 405 schools are reported to be functional.
Under the new scheme of Eklavya Model Residential Schools, the Tribal Affairs Ministry releases funds to National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), the autonomous society created in the year 2019 under the ministry to manage and implement the scheme of EMRS.
NESTS further releases funds to states or construction agencies as per their requirements for construction of Eklavya Model Residential Schools and recurring cost for running of the schools.
Prior to 2020-21, this scheme was a component under Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India and no separate budget allocation was made for the scheme of Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
It may be mentioned that during the Assembly session on February 23 this year, Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma had said that the building infrastructure for Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Nongpoh and Samanda have been completed and the government is waiting for the recruitment process to be completed.
He also informed the House that the State government is planning to start the academic session from April 1, 2024.
