Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Agartala, Oct 9 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday announced that the construction work of six more Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) to provide quality education to tribal students and preserve the culture and languages of the indigenous people will be completed by March 2026.
EMRS is a flagship program of the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry, the Chief Minister said after inaugurating the 480-seat Eklavya Model Residential School at Jampuijala in West Tripura’s Sipahijala district.
He said that after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, everyone realized what EMRS is in India. He said that PM Modi has inaugurated these schools physically and virtually to provide quality education and holistic development to the tribal students living in rural areas.
Saha, who also holds the education portfolio, said, 21 EMRS have been approved in Tripura and till now a total of 12 such institutions have started functioning. By March 2026, six more EMRSs will be constructed at Ampi, Hejamara, Amarpur, Chavamanu, Mandvai and Manu.
He said, “Once we complete the construction of 21 EMRS, more than 10,000 students will be able to take admission in these institutions. We have also increased pre-matric scholarship for students.”
In this newly inaugurated school in Jampuijala, 60 students have taken admission and around 480 students will take admission soon. The Chief Minister said that the main objective of EMRS is to provide quality education to tribe (tribal) children from class 6 to 12, and PM Modi always says that “we should provide proper education and all facilities till the last mile of the society”.
Saha also said that there are still some places in the North-Eastern region where EMRS has not yet been started; However, Tripura has received 21 such institutions.
He said, “Tripura has got the status of front runner state from NITI Aayog. Our state is the third fully literate state in the country. We are working for the development of education and based on all the criteria our state has been declared a fully literate state. As per UNESCO guidelines, if 95 per cent of the population of a state is literate, then it will be declared 100 per cent literate.”
Saha said that the culture and languages of the tribals will be preserved through these schools. He said that those who will pass out from EMRS in the coming days will act as agents of change for their social, economic and cultural development and will help in reducing the number of dropouts.
The Chief Minister said that the government is confident that these schools will provide quality education and will be beneficial for Tripura in the days to come.
CM Saha said, “EMRS covers not only education but also sports and skill development. These schools are following CBSE curriculum and keeping in mind the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya model, these EMRS have been started. Along with special coaching classes, free boarding, dress, books and everything is provided free of cost.”
Tribal Welfare Minister Vikas Debbarma, Secretary K. Shasikumar, Tribal Welfare Director Subhasis Das, Sipahijala District Magistrate Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal were present.
–IANS
SC/PGH