Lok Sabha Question No. 3021 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-15
Subject: Standard of Residential Schools
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Manickam Tagore B, Behanan Benny, Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3021

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2021

## STANDARD OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS

3021.  SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.: SHRI BENNY BEHANAN: SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that there are no basic facilities in Government-run residential school for tribals and they are striving with substandard education & food, sexual assault, and deaths;

(b)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  maintains  data  on  the  same  and  has  conducted  any investigation  in  this  regard  to  identify  the  factors  responsible  for  the  poor  condition  of  the students in these schools;

(c)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  safety  and  good  atmosphere  in  these schools;

(d) whether the Government is aware that residential schools for tribal students have been used to forcefully assimilate  indigenous tribal  students  in countries  such  as Canada,  New Zealand and Australia; and

(e) whether the Government has taken any steps to learn from the failures of this model in these countries or to reconsider the model?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS: (SMT RENUKA SINGH SARUTA)

(a) to (c) No Sir. Ministry of Tribal Affairs is funding two schemes of Government run residential schools for tribal students, viz. (i) Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) and (ii) Construction of Ashram School. Under the scheme of Ashram School, only construction grant in cost sharing ratio  basis  is  released  to  the  State  Government for  construction of such schools. So far, this Ministry has funded 1205 number of Ashram Schools across the country for quality education of ST children. Recurring grants for these schools are released by the concerned State Government and all administrative management, academic issues including food, education and safety/security are being taken care of by the concerned State Government.

Under the scheme of EMRS, funds are released by this Ministry for construction, upgradation of schools  and  also  recurring  expenditure  of  all  the  students  studying  in  class  VI  to  XII.  The Government is committed to provide quality education to the tribal students. In this endeavour, the recurring costs per student per annum have been substantially increased from Rs. 42,000 in 2017-18 to Rs. 61,500 in 2018-19 and subsequently to Rs. 1,09,000 in 2019-20 to provide best quality facilities to the students. EMRSs have become an island of excellence in the remote tribal hinterlands attracting large number of tribal children. Through extra classes, special coaching, educational tours, exposure visits, special camps, sports camps students have been encouraged to  dream  high  and  motivated  to  achieve  as  well.  Students  have  done  exceptionally  well  in academics. Regular monitoring is being done through the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) and the State/UT EMRS Society at the State Level to ensure that all the facilities  as  envisaged  in  the  scheme  including  nutritious  food,  quality  education,  secure environment etc. is provided to the students.

(d)  and  (e)  Ministry  of  Tribal  affairs  does  not  have  any  official  information  regarding  forceful assimilation of indigenous tribal students in some countries. The authenticity of media reports on this account if any is not verifiable.

As per the policy of Government, EMRSs have been established since 1998 in remote tribal locations to provide quality education to tribals in their vicinity. Furthering this, the Government revamped the scheme to ensure that every block with 50% or more ST population and 20,000 or more  tribal  persons  has  an  EMRS.  EMRSs  have  always  been  located  close  to  the  tribal habitations  to  ensure  that  the  students  remain  connected  to  their  roots  and  do  not  get disconnected from their identity and culture. The design of the schools has also been ensured in a manner to reflect the vibrant culture of the tribal communities. Moreover, the rationale behind a campus with around 15 acres land was to provide the students an open and free environment. In order to ensure that students remain connected to their identity and culture, establishment of mini-museums have been encouraged in the schools. During 2020-21, the school uniform for the EMRS students designed by National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi is based on the basic premise of reflection of the vibrant culture of the tribals and their closeness to nature.

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