Lok Sabha Question No. 3290 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: EMRS in Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Kartick Chandra Paul

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 3290

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 12/03/2026

## EMRS IN UTTAR DINAJPUR, WEST BENGAL

3290. SHRI KARTICK CHANDRA PAUL:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population in Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal as per the latest Census and updated demographic records, block-wise;
- (b) whether the district meets the criteria prescribed for establishment of an Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in terms of concentration of Scheduled Tribe population;
- (c) whether any proposal has been received from the Government of West Bengal for setting up an EMRS in Uttar Dinajpur district and if so, the details and the status thereof;
- (d) the number of EMRS currently operational or sanctioned in West Bengal, district-wise; and (e) whether the Government proposes to sanction an EMRS in Uttar Dinajpur in view of its Scheduled Tribe population and educational needs?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

(a) to (c) & (e): As per census 2011, block wise population in Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal is given below:

|   S.No.CD Block NameTotal PopulationST PopulationPercentage | S.No.CD Block NameTotal PopulationST PopulationPercentage   |   S.No.CD Block NameTotal PopulationST PopulationPercentage |   S.No.CD Block NameTotal PopulationST PopulationPercentage | S.No.CD Block NameTotal PopulationST PopulationPercentage   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                           1 | Chopra                                                      |                                                      284403 |                                                       20043 | 7%                                                          |
|                                                           2 | Itahar                                                      |                                                      303678 |                                                       25334 | 8%                                                          |
|                                                           3 | Karandighi                                                  |                                                      368332 |                                                       28773 | 8%                                                          |
|                                                           4 | Raiganj                                                     |                                                      430221 |                                                       27785 | 6%                                                          |
|                                                           5 | Hemtabad                                                    |                                                      142056 |                                                        6491 | 5%                                                          |
|                                                           6 | Islampur                                                    |                                                      308518 |                                                        8032 | 3%                                                          |
|                                                           7 | Goalpokhar - I                                              |                                                      326120 |                                                       12595 | 4%                                                          |
|                                                           8 | Goalpokhar - II                                             |                                                      291252 |                                                       17647 | 6%                                                          |
|                                                           9 | Kaliaganj                                                   |                                                      224142 |                                                       12675 | 6%                                                          |

As per the existing guidelines of EMRS Scheme, EMRSs are sanctioned in blocks having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per the 2011 Census). None of the blocks in   Uttar Dinajpur district meet the above twin criteria.

(d): 9 EMRSs have been sanctioned in West Bengal out of which 8 EMRSs are operational. District wise status is given below:

|    | S.No.Name of District   |    |   SanctionedOperational |
|----|-------------------------|----|-------------------------|
| 1  | Bankura                 |  1 |                       1 |
| 2  | Birbhum                 |  1 |                       1 |
| 3  | Dakshin Dinajpur        |  1 |                       1 |
| 4  | Jalpaiguri              |  1 |                       1 |
| 5  | Jhargram                |  1 |                       1 |
| 6  | Kalimpong               |  1 |                       1 |
| 7  | Paschim Bardhaman       |  1 |                       1 |
| 8  | Purulia                 |  2 |                       1 |
|    | Grand Total             |  9 |                       8 |

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