Parliament Question: Expansion of EMRS in West Bengal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1906 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2026 EXPANSION OF EMRS IN WEST BENGAL 1906. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR: Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether Bundwan Block in Purulia district remains without an Eklavya Model Residential School despite its sanction due to non-availability of land by the State Government and if so, the present status of land availability for the project; (b) the current status of the EMRS at Kalimpong, sanctioned under Article 275(1) during the year 2018-19 including the details of Central funds released, reasons for non-commencement of construction and the revised timeline for completion following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) and the Government of West Bengal on 27 May, 2026; (c) whether the Government proposes to revise the eligibility criteria for establishment of EMRSs to include blocks having large absolute Scheduled Tribe (ST) populations but less than fifty per cent ST concentration and if so, the details thereof, particularly with reference to Kalchini, Mal, Madarihat, Binpur-II and Phansidewa blocks; and (d) the number of new EMRSs proposed to be established in West Bengal on the basis of Census 2021 data, considering the existing number of EMRSs vis-à-vis the Scheduled Tribe population of the State? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY) (a): Bundwan block of Purulia district in West Bengal is the only block meeting the prescribed criteria for establishment of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS). The land for said block has been identified by State Government. (b): As reported by the State Government, EMRS in Kalimpong is functional in alternate building and the construction of permanent building has commenced. A total of Rs 20.91 Cr has been approved for EMRS Kalimpong out of which Rs. 9.96 Cr has been released. (c) No Sir (d): Under the existing scheme, the establishment of EMRS is based on 2011 census. ******