Enhancement of Eklavya School Model

Imparting quality education is one of the key responsibilities of the government. The CBSE and the other educational regulatory bodies duly realise this responsibility and undertake the needful reforms from time to time in order to improvise the education system in India. Almost every month we hear about new initiatives taken by the Centre and the state in the field of educational improvisation.

Lately the Union Minister, Jual Oram on 30th October, 2018 announced that the government is planning to undertake the initiative of starting 700 more Eklavya model residential schools (EMRS) in the entire country by the year 2022. Initially this scheme was conceived in the year 2000. It is the central scheme wherein model residential schools are constructed for schedule tribes all over the country. Tribal affairs Minister Oram stated that the aim of doing the same was to cover the gap that still exists between the tribal youths and the other youth of the nation. This gap has been there since times immemorial in the field of education and professional world. Oram informed that at present there are around 1802 Eklavya schools that are functioning in the country. Approximately 700 more schools will become functional by the year 2022. The criteria for opening a school would be its population precisely the tribal population. An area which has more than 20,000 people will see an Eklavya School developing in their region. As per this criteria around 80% of blocks in Jharkhand fall under the criteria of the scheme. The already existing Eklavya model residential schools have been performing really well. The students of these schools have secured first and second ranks so far as has been evaluated by UPSC or SPSC competitive exams. Although there are certain lags such as the students are not that confident and smart as they should be. It is important to build in the confidence of the students and make them smart enough to face the competitive world. The government has taken up this initiative in order to train the tribal youths and to prepare them for professional competitions. The minister appreciated the Jharkhand government’s efforts in organising the inaugural edition of the national level music competition successfully. Around 12 states from all around the country such as Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Nagaland, Odisha, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand took part in the competition. The government has planned to spend around Rs.25, 000 crores by 2022 in order to improvise the standard life of the tribal community. The occasion of the music competition was witnessed by many other ministers such as the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Sudershan Bhagat, Jharkhand Tribal Welfare Minister Lois Marandi, Secretary (Tribal Affairs) Vinod Tiwari and Secretary (Tribal Welfare) Himani Pande. Indeed we are hopeful and lucky that our government thinks and plans and executes such initiatives to make India and its youth academically and professionally more competitive to face the present competitive world.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/700-more-eklavya-schools-by-2022-oram/articleshow/66442382.cms