**Summary:**
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs reports a delay in the construction of the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in Bundwan, Purulia, West Bengal. The primary cause of the delay was the delayed land allocation by the State Government, which was eventually completed in March 2025. At the request of the State Government, the responsibility for construction has been entrusted to them. As of August 7, 2025, construction is yet to commence.
The project has a ceiling cost of INR 37.80 crore. No funds have been disbursed to date, as no fund release request has been received from the State Government.
The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) is coordinating with the State EMRS Society to ensure the timely completion of the project. NESTS has provided comprehensive construction guidelines, standard drawings, and designs to the State Government and advised the engagement of a Third-Party Quality Assurance (TPQA) agency to maintain quality standards. More than 20 communications were sent by NESTS and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs regarding land allocations, to which the State Government responded on 22.03.2023, 14.03.2024, and 26.06.2024. Formal sanction has been issued by NESTS vide letter dated 17.03.2025.
The maximum permissible construction period, as per guidelines, is 18 months from the date of the award of work. Regular communication is being maintained with State authorities to expedite the commencement of construction.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The Union Government ministry responsible for tribal affairs.
Eklavya Model Residential School: A scheme for providing quality education to tribal students in remote areas.
Bundwan, Purulia of West Bengal: Location of the EMRS school that is subject of the notification. Bundwan is a block and Purulia is the district in West Bengal.
Shri Jyotirmay Singh Mahato: The individual who raised the unstarred question in Lok Sabha.
Shri Durgadas Uikey: The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs who responded to the question in Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha: The Lower House of the Parliament of India.
National Education Society for Tribal Students NESTS: Autonomous organization responsible for managing and implementing the EMRS scheme.
State Government: Refers to the Government of West Bengal.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
EMRS IN BUNDWAN, PURULIA OF WEST
BENGAL
Posted On: 07 AUG 2025 3:15PM by PIB Delhi
Replying to an un-starred question of Shri Jyotirmay Singh Mahato, the Union Minister of State for Tribal
Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed Lok Sabha today that the construction of the Eklavya Model
Residential School (EMRS) in Bundwan was delayed due to the State Government’s delay in providing the
required land, which was eventually allotted in March 2025. At the request of the State Government, the
responsibility for construction has been entrusted to them. However, the work is yet to commence. As per
guidelines, the maximum permissible period for construction is 18 months from the date of award of the
work.
The ceiling cost for the construction of EMRS Bundwan is 37.80 crore. However, since no fund
release request has been received from the State Government, no funds have been disbursed so
far.
To ensure the timely completion of the EMRS Bundwan project, several steps have been taken by
the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous organization
established to manage and implement the EMRS scheme in coordination with State EMRS
Societies. In response to a request from the State Government, the construction work of EMRS
Bundwan has been entrusted to them. NESTS has shared comprehensive construction guidelines,
including standard drawings and designs, with the State Government. Additionally, to maintain
quality standards, the State Government has been advised to engage a Third-Party Quality
Assurance (TPQA) agency. Regular communication is being maintained with the State authorities
to expedite the commencement of construction.
More than 20 communications were sent by NESTS and Ministry of Tribal Affairs regarding land
allocations, to which the State Government responded on 22.03.2023, 14.03.2024, and
26.06.2024.
State Government vide its letters dated 14.03.2024 and 26.06.2024 requested NESTS to allow construction
by State Government, though land was not provided by State Government. State Government provided land
on 07.03.2025. Accordingly, formal sanction has been issued by NESTS vide letter dated 17.03.2025.
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RN/
(Release ID: 2153519)