**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 945 raised in the Lok Sabha, concerning Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) in Gujarat and Telangana. It provides details on the sanctioned, operational, and under-construction EMRSs, funds allocated, infrastructure provided, and recruitment efforts. The response is dated February 5, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **EMRS Details:**
* District-wise details of EMRSs sanctioned, operational, and under-construction in Telangana and Gujarat are provided in an annexure.
* Telangana has 23 EMRSs sanctioned, with 22 functional and 1 under construction.
* Gujarat has 47 EMRSs sanctioned, with 26 functional and 18 under construction.
* **Funding:**
* Over the last five years, Telangana received and utilized Rs. 73097.22 lakh.
* Gujarat received and utilized Rs. 59016.51 lakh.
* **Infrastructure:**
* EMRSs with a capacity of 480 students (Classes VI to XII) on 15-acre campuses are equipped with digital classrooms, science laboratories, and sports facilities.
* Provisions include smart boards with internet connectivity and lab equipment.
* **Staffing:**
* NESTS conducted a recruitment drive for 10391 posts, with selected staff posted in various EMRSs, including those in Telangana and Gujarat.
* State governments are advised to depute staff. State EMRS Societies can engage guest teachers and non-teaching staff.
* **Operational Guidelines and Challenges:**
* EMRSs are set up in blocks with over 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per 2011 census).
* Construction timelines are 24 months (plain areas) or 30 months (LWE/Hilly/NE areas) after encumbrance-free land is provided.
* Challenges include availability of encumbrance-free land, forest clearances, and teaching/non-teaching staff vacancies. These are being addressed through meetings and recruitment efforts.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Government of Telangana and Gujarat**
* **Impact:** Responsible for utilizing funds, providing encumbrance-free land, addressing forest clearance issues, and supporting staff recruitment.
* **Action Required:** Continue to utilize allocated funds for infrastructure and operational costs. Provide necessary land and clearances for EMRS construction. Support NESTS recruitment efforts and consider deputation or outsourcing options to fill staffing vacancies.
**Stakeholder: NESTS (National Education Society for Tribal Students)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the direct recruitment of staff for EMRSs.
* **Action Required:** Continue direct recruitment efforts to fill teaching and non-teaching positions in EMRSs.
**Stakeholder: Tribal Students (Scheduled Tribes)**
* **Impact:** Access to quality education in their own environment, improving educational outcomes.
* **Action Required:** N/A, but they are the beneficiaries of this initiative and depend on smooth operationalization.
**Stakeholder: State EMRS Societies**
* **Impact:** Empowered to engage guest teachers and non-teaching staff on an outsourcing basis.
* **Action Required:** Use outsourcing and local engagement to ensure academic activities are not hampered.
Key Entities Referenced
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs): A scheme to establish residential schools for tribal students, aiming to provide quality education in their own environment.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The government ministry responsible for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of programs and schemes related to the welfare and development of Scheduled Tribes, including the EMRS scheme.
NESTS: National Education Society for Tribal Students, responsible for the direct recruitment of staff for the EMRSs.
Telangana: One of the states where the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) are sanctioned and operational.
Gujarat: One of the states where the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) are sanctioned and operational.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 945
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026
EMRSs IN GUJARAT AND TELANGANA
945. SHRI ARVIND DHARMAPURI:
SHRI DHAVAL LAXMANBHAI PATEL:
Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) sanctioned/operational/under-
construction in Telangana and Gujarat, district-wise;
(b) the details of funds released and utilised for the same;
(c) whether the Government has equipped these schools with digital classrooms, science
laboratories and sports infrastructure and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the vacancies for teachers and infrastructural gaps in these schools; and
(e) the various steps and timelines to achieve full operational status for the said EMRSs?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a) The details of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) sanctioned/ operational/
under-construction in Telangana and Gujarat, district-wise are given at Annexure.
(b) During last five years, an amount of Rs. 73097.22 lakh and Rs. 59016.51 lakh has been
released to and utilized by the state government of Telangana and Gujarat respectively.
(c) All the EMRSs having capacity of 480 students from Classes VI to XII and the campus
with the area of 15 acres have the provision of digital classrooms, science laboratories and
sports facilities. Smart boards with reliable internet connectivity and lab equipment for
different subjects apart from facilities for indoor and outdoor games have also been
provisioned.(d) NESTS carried out its first drive for direct recruitment of 10391 posts through ESSE-
2023 and staff selected have been posted in various EMRSs including Telangana and Gujarat.
In addition to the direct recruitment, NESTS also has advised State Governments to depute
staff on deputation. Further, State EMRS Societies are empowered to engage guest teachers
against vacancies, if any, and non-teaching staff on outsourcing basis/local engagement, so
that academic activities are not hampered.
(e) As per existing EMRS scheme guidelines, EMRSs are set up in blocks having more than
50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011) to provide quality
education to tribal students in their own environment. The total construction period of EMRS
is 24 months for plain area and 30 months for LWE/Hilly/NE Areas after encumbrance free
land is provided by the respective state government. The availability of encumbrance free
land and forest clearance issues apart from the vacancies of teaching and non-teaching staff
are some of the hurdles in completion and operationalization of EMRSs. The land and forest
issues are resolved through meetings with the concerned authorities. Necessary steps to
address the issue of vacancies of teaching and non-teaching staff have also been taken over
the past few years through direct recruitment by NESTS as well as authorizing State
governments to engage them on deputation or outsourcing. These efforts would enable timely
operationalization of EMRSs.Annexure
ANNEXURE AS REFERRED IN PART (A) OF THE REPLY TO LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 945 FOR 05.02.2026 RAISED BY SHRI ARVIND
DHARMAPURI AND SHRI DHAVAL LAXMANBHAI PATEL REGARDING
“EMRSs IN GUJARAT AND TELANGANA”
The details of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) sanctioned/ operational/
under-construction in Telangana and Gujarat, district-wise
State Name of EMRS Functional Completed Under
District Sanctioned/ Construction
Land made
available
Adilabad 3 3 3
Bhadradri 7 7 7
Kothagudem
Kamareddy 1 1 1
Khammam 1 1 1
Komaram 1 1 1
Bheem
Telangana
Asifabad
Mahabubabad 5 5 4 1
Mahabubnagar 1 1 1
Nagarkurnool 1 1 1
Nizamabad 1 1 1
Rajanna 2 2 2
Sircilla
Total 23 23 22 1
Arvalli 2 2 2
Banas Kantha 3 3 2 1
Bharuch 2 2 1 1
Chhota Udepur 4 4 2 2
Dahod 7 7 3 4
Gujarat Mahisagar 2 2 1 1
Narmada 5 4 2 2
Navsari 2 2 1 1
Panch Mahals 1 1 1
Sabar Kantha 3 3 1 2
Surat 4 4 2 2Tapi 5 3 3
The Dangs 3 3 2 1
Vadodara 1 1 1
Valsad 3 3 2 1
Total 47 44 26 18
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