Government Of Assam Department of Tribal Affairs (Plain) Directorate of Welfare of Plain Tribes & Backward Classes

Introduction

• In the context of the trend of establishing quality residential schools for the promotion of education in all areas and habitations in the country, the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for ST students take their place among the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and the Kendriya Vidyalayas.
• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are set up in States/UTs with grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India.
• States/UTs are free to apportion funds out of their Article 275 (1) Grants to construct and run additional EMRS over the number sanctioned by the Ministry.
• The State Governments/UT Administration will ask for new EMRS after ensuring that all the existing EMRSs have been made functional.
• The Ministry’s support to the States/ UTs for the EMRSs programme and its expansion will be subject to the States/UTs ensuring high quality of management and running of the schools. Quality management indicates timely and smooth transition of funds allocated from the State Government/UT Administration to the management societies/schools; ensuring the recruitment of the desired number of teachers; ensuring the provision of medical facilities to staff and students; clean and hygienic surroundings and food for the children and providing a healthy, happy environment for the academic and overall development of the children. If the progress in the EMRSs is seen to be poor as a direct result of poor management and lack of adherence to standards the States/ UTs concerned would be unable to claim any more funds from the Ministry for this programme.

Objectives of EMRS

The objective of EMRS is to provide quality middle and high level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas, not only to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and as jobs in government and public and private sectors but also to have access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non ST population.
This would be achieved by:

• Comprehensive physical, mental and socially relevant development of all students enrolled in each and every EMRS. Students will be empowered to be change agent, beginning in their school, in their homes, in their village and finally in a larger context.
• Focus differentially on the educational support to be made available to those in Standards XI and XII, and those in standards VI to X, so that their distinctive needs can be met.
• Support the annual running expenses in a manner that offers reasonable remuneration to the staff and upkeep of the facilities.
• Support the construction of infrastructure that provides education, physical, environmental and cultural needs of student life.

Structure of EMRSs

• Admission to these schools will be through selection/competition with suitable provision for preference to children belonging to Primitive Tribal Groups, first generation students, etc.
• Sufficient land would be given by the State Government for the school, play grounds, hostels, residential quarters, etc., free of cost.
• The number of seats for boys and girls will be equal.
• In these schools, education will be entirely free.
• Every class can have maximum 60 students preferably in 2 sections of 30 students each and the total sanctioned strength of the school will be 480 students.
• At the Higher Secondary level (class XI & XII), there will be three sections per class for the three streams in Science, Commerce & Humanities. The maximum sanctioned strength of the each section may be 30 students. In case of short fall in a section, ST students from other schools may be admitted as per procedure mentioned at above para (a).

Management and Running of EMRS

• The EMRSs may be affiliated either to the State or Central Boards of Secondary Education as desired fit by the State Governments/UT Administration.
• The norms and standards for a school class VI to class VIII in respect of the number of teachers to be appointed, as provided in the Schedule to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 shall be strictly followed.
• Efforts may be made to recruit maximum no. of women teachers. At the time of recruitment, preference may be accorded to candidates whose spouses also qualify for selection as teachers. Women should be given preference for employment among the nonteaching staff and in any case women be deployed in the posts of cook, helper and cleaner.
• Each State Government/UT Administration would be solely responsible for the management and effective functioning of the EMRSs.
• State Governments/UT Administration may opt for any feasible/ suitable mode of management whether by autonomous education societies; public-private partnership with reputed educational institutions; in arrangement with the State Department of Education or any other mode found suitable.
• All State Governments/UT Administration are encouraged to set up a society/use an existing registered education society for the management of the EMRSs. Such a society will be eligible for accepting donations, contributions and grants from individuals and institutions, for the purposes of augmenting the infrastructure/ facilities/ educational resources of the schools in the interest of quality education.
• A Management Committee may be constituted for each EMRSs which could include, among others, reputed local NGOs involved with education. Help of such NGOs may be taken to organize socially relevant, development/ welfare extension programmes.
• The tasks of school admissions, appointment of teachers, appointment of staff, personnel matters and day-to-day running of the schools would be handled entirely by the society chosen by the State Government/UT Administration and in the manner deemed most suitable.
• The State Governments/UT Administration shall ensure and maintain the highest quality in the selection of teachers and staff for academic and extra-curricular excellence.
• The Government of India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs shall not accept any responsibility for the management of the School including student admission, staff recruitment, personnel policy / administration estate management etc.

Building Design and Layout

• The land allocation for each school should be 20 acres of which upto 3.5 acres may be used for the construction purposes. The remaining area must be maintained properly and a reasonable portion may be earmarked for sports/ games.
• The plan of the school must indicate a layout of the compound, including the kitchen, vegetable garden and plantation (fruits and nutritional trees like drumsticks (moringa/Sahjan), citrus) areas. States/UTs are encouraged to use fuel saving or renewable energy technologies in the school by availing of the schemes of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.
• The design of the EMRS must take certain essential components into account as well as local, environmental characteristics. A list of suggested essential components is at Annexure.
• The norms and standards of a school in respect of ‘Building’ as laid down in the Schedule to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, shall be strictly ensured.

Costs & Budget

• Capital Cost (non-recurring) The capital cost for the school complex, including hostels and staff quarters will now be Rs. 12.00 crore with a provision to go up to Rs.16.00 crore in hill areas, deserts and islands. Any escalation will have to be met by State Government/UT.
• Recurring Cost Recurring cost during the first year for schools would be @ Rs. 42000/- per child. This may be raised by 10% every second year to compensate for inflation etc.
• For procurement of essential, non-recurring items like furniture/equipment including for the kitchen, dining, hostel, recreation, garden etc. @ Rs.10 lakh per school - will be allowed once in every 5 years, allowing for inflation.
• The annual budget for recurring expenditure shall be formulated and placed before the Management Committee for approval at the end of the each financial year for the next year. The rates for calculation of recurring costs may be based on the prevailing rates sanctioned for the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya from time to time.
• The amount under recurring cost, due to each functioning EMRS, would be released by the State/UT Government to the bank account of the EMRS. The bank account of each EMRS for this purpose may be opened jointly in the name of the Principal of the EMRS and any Member of the Management Committee who is also a Government official.

Review and Monitoring

• The progress of implementation of the scheme will be reviewed by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs through periodic reports from the State Government/ implementing agencies.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will conduct review meetings during which States/UTs would be required to make presentations on the progress of their EMRSs.
• The guidelines for the use of the grants under Article 275 (1) provide for an amount up to 2% of the total allocation to be used for administration of the programme. This would be applicable in case of EMRS.
• A centralized mechanism for the online monitoring of the EMRSs would be developed. Meanwhile States/UTs may strength their own systems/methods. The Government of India is free to make any modification in the aforesaid conditions in consultation with selected State Governments/ UTs whenever deemed necessary.

The following items may particularly be included in the lay-out of the Eklavya Model Residential School.

School

• Sufficient no. of class rooms.
• Teachers resource room/computer lab.
• Students computer lab/language room
• Library
• Science laboratory
• General purpose hall/ Recreation Room/ Auditorium (can be combined with dining space) Infirmary/ sick room

Residences

• Housing for teachers, security and supporting staff Hostel
• Well ventilated dormitories
• Assured/ reliable water supply
• Office Room for hostel warden
• Courtyard/verandah for washing and drying clothes
• Recreation/common room/covered courtyard for rainy season activities
• Rainwater harvesting
• Reliable sewage system
• Openable/cleanable nets on doors and windows to keep out mosquitoes/insects.
• Dining/Kitchen

  1. Solar water heating
  2. Kitchen garden and compost pit
  3. Kitchen utensil washing area
  4. Multipurpose area-covered verandah attached to kitchen

• Housing for wardens, security and supporting staff (in case of proposals relating to Ashram Schools)

Outdoor areas

• Compound wall
• Area for plantation of nutritional fruit trees
• Garden and small shed
• Toilets for workers/visitors
• Utilities

Electrical control room

• Underground tanks, pump house
• Sewage treatment plant
• Security cabin/guard room

The entire school building including library, laboratories and toilets should be accessible to children with disabilities.