Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)

Posted On: 17 DEC 2018 9:00PM by PIB Delhi

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its in-principle approval for setting up of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) in every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons.To begin with, the CCEA has approved a financial cost of ₹ 2242.03 crore during 2018-19 and 2019-20 for rolling out the revamped scheme.

The CCEA has further approved the following:

There will be an Autonomous Society under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs similar to NavodayaVidyalayaSamiti to run the EMRSs.

Upgradation of already sanctioned EMRSs on need basis with unit cost subject to a maximum of ₹ 5 crore per school.

Setting up sports facilities in 163 tribal dominated districts at a unit cost of ₹ 5 crore each to be constructed by the year 2022. Financial provisions for 15 sports facilities during 2018-19 and 2019-20 has been agreed to.

Enhancing the grants for maintenance which are admissible every five years from ₹ 10 lakh to ₹ 20 Lakh.

Details:

102 of such blocks are already having EMRSs. Thus, 462 new EMRSs will be established in these blocks across the country.

The new scheme envisages increase in construction cost of EMRS from current ₹ 12 crore to ₹ 20 crore to improve the construction quality and ensure better facilities for the students.

Recurring cost to be enhanced to ₹ 1,09,000/- per student per year from the existing ₹ 61500/- per student per year from 2019-20 onwards.

Additional 20% would be provided towards construction cost in North East, hilly areas, difficult areas and areas affected by Left Wing Extremism.

Background:

EMRS is an excellent approach for imparting quality education to ST children. Apart from school building including hostels and staff quarters, provision fora playground, students' computer lab, teacher resource room etc. are also included in the EMRSs. This initiative will benefit ST students immensely.

By focusing on specific intervention to cater to the educational needs of STs, the quality of the life of STs is expected to improve to the level of rest of the social groups and a visible impact by 2021 Census.

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AKT/SH

Expansion of tribal residential schools: nationwide EMRS rollout with autonomous management and enhanced infrastructure grants. Policy mandates establishment of Eklavya Model Residential Schools in every block with over fifty percent Scheduled Tribe population and at least twenty thousand tribal residents, adding 462 new EMRSs; an Autonomous Society under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs will run the schools. The scheme raises construction and recurring cost norms, authorises upgradation of existing EMRSs with capped unit costs, provides additional construction funding for specified difficult regions, enhances five year maintenance grants, and funds sports facilities and phased financial provisioning to implement the rollout.