Lok Sabha Question No. 357 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Quality Education to Tribal Students
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Gyaneshwar Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- †357

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 05/02/2024

## QUALITY EDUCATION TO TRIBAL STUDENTS

†357.  SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken by the Government to ensure equal access to quality education to tribal students and to remove the academic inqualities faced by them; and

(b)  the  strategies  being  adopted  and  intiatives  being  taken  to  enhance  the  quality  of education for tribal students, keeping in mind their specific need and cultural background?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR):

- (a)  &  (b): Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  is  implementing  the  Central  Sector  Scheme  of Eklavya  Model  Residential  School  (EMRS)  for  providing  quality  education  to  tribal students  in  their  own  environment.  For  the  first  time  since  independence,  in  2019, Government of India gave special attention to tribal education and decided to set up EMRS in blocks having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census  2011)  in  remote,  forest  areas,  hilly  and  difficult  areas  with  possible  outlay  of around  Rs  29,000  cr.  Accordingly,  National  Education  Society  for  Tribal  Students (NESTS), an autonomous organization, has been established to manage and implement the scheme of EMRS. As on date, Ministry has sanctioned a total of 694 EMRSs, out of which  402  are  reported  to  be  functional  benefiting  1,21,640  tribal  students  across  the country. The following facilities are provided under the scheme of EMRS:
-  Free quality education to tribal students ensuring their all-around development.
-  Fully residential school for class from 6th to 12th Standard with a strength of 480 students (240 Girls and 240 Boys).
-  The infrastructure  available  in  each  School  is  classrooms,  administrative  block,  Labs, Hostel, Sports Facility, Staff Residences etc.
-  The  Department  of  Expenditure  has  approved  52  posts  for  each  EMRS  with  a  total vacancy of 38480 teaching and non-teaching staff. Recruitment is to be carried out in a phased manner from 2022-23 to 2026-27.
-  Study materials, and uniforms (including customized climatic clothing for hilly areas) are provided free of cost.
-  Extra-curricular  activities  like  dance,  music,  painting,  trekking,  excursions/exposure visits, study tours.

Further, Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the following Scholarship Schemes to promote and encourage basic and higher education amongst ST population: -

- (i) Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class IX and X)
- (ii) Post Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class XI and above)
- (iii) National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students.
- (iv) National Overseas Scholarship for ST students.

Under these  schemes  funds  are  directly  transferred  to  students'  Bank  account  through DBT.

In  addition  to  this,  Ministry  of  Education,  Department  of  School  Education  and Literacy is implementing an integrated centrally sponsored scheme for School educationSamagra Shiksha for all, including tribal children. The scheme provides support for the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The Scheme aims to ensure that all children  have  access  to  quality  education  with  an  equitable  and  inclusive  classroom environment  which  should  take  care  of  their  diverse  background,  multilingual  needs, different academic abilities and make them active participants in the learning process.

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