**Executive Summary**
This document outlines new safety standards implemented in Tribal Residential Schools following reports of suspected food poisoning and infections. Issued by the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), these measures aim to enhance health, hygiene, and safety. Key actions include updated mess management guidelines and mandatory engagement of medical staff, with the goal of safeguarding student well-being.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Health and Hygiene Standards:**
* NESTS has issued circulars and guidelines to all Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs).
* These focus on strict adherence to health, hygiene, and safety standards in hostels and school messes.
* **Mess Management Guidelines:**
* Prescribe hygienic food preparation practices and safe food storage.
* Mandate the maintenance of cleanliness in kitchen and dining areas.
* Include provisions for the constitution of Mess Committees and periodic inspections.
* Require tasting of food prior to serving to students.
* **Healthcare and Well-being Support:**
* Instructions issued for engaging a Staff Nurse and Counsellor in each EMRS.
* Engagement of a Part-time Doctor is mandated for periodic medical check-ups and timely consultations.
* Provision made for hiring a school vehicle for prompt transportation of students to health facilities during emergencies.
* **Overall Objective:**
* To strengthen health services, improve food safety practices, and ensure timely medical response in EMRSs.
* To safeguard the health and well-being of tribal students in these schools.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Students**
* **Impact:** Improved health and safety due to enhanced hygiene standards, better food quality, and readily available medical support. Reduced risk of foodborne illnesses and infections.
* **Action Required:** None explicitly stated, but students are beneficiaries of the implemented measures.
* **School Authorities (EMRSs)**
* **Impact:** Required to implement and enforce new health, hygiene, and safety standards, including mess management guidelines.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to circulars and guidelines issued by NESTS, including the constitution of Mess Committees, conducting inspections, and ensuring staff engagement as mandated.
* **National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for issuing and overseeing the implementation of these new safety standards and guidelines.
* **Action Required:** Continue to monitor compliance and provide necessary support to EMRSs in implementing these measures.
* **State/UT EMRS Societies**
* **Impact:** Will be involved in coordinating with school authorities to ensure the implementation of corrective and preventive measures.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with concerned school authorities to implement the new standards and measures.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS): An organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs that has issued circulars and guidelines related to safety standards in Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs): Residential schools for tribal students where safety standards are being addressed.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The government ministry responsible for the implementation and oversight of policies related to tribal affairs, including the safety of students in residential schools.
Guidelines for Mess Management in EMRSs: Specific guidelines issued by NESTS that prescribe practices for food preparation, storage, and maintenance of cleanliness in school messes.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
SAFETY STANDARDS IN TRIBAL RESIDENTIAL
SCHOOLS
Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 4:51PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed Lok Sabha that a few isolated
instances of suspected food poisoning and infections in certain Eklavya Model Residential Schools
(EMRSs) have been reported. In such cases, necessary medical attention was provided to the affected
students and appropriate corrective measures were taken by the concerned school authorities in
coordination with the State/UT EMRS Societies.
The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has
issued a series of circulars and guidelines to all EMRSs to ensure strict adherence to health, hygiene and
safety standards in hostels and school messes. These include, inter-alia, the Guidelines for Mess
Management in EMRSs and instructions regarding preventive measures for ensuring the safety and well-
being of hostel students.
The EMRS Mess Management Guidelines prescribe hygienic food preparation practices, safe storage of
food items, and maintenance of cleanliness in kitchen and dining areas. The guidelines also provide for
the constitution of Mess Committees, periodic inspections, and tasting of food prior to serving to
students.
Further, NESTS has issued instructions for engagement of a Staff Nurse and Counsellor in each EMRS
to facilitate regular health monitoring and provide psychosocial support to students. In addition,
engagement of a Part-time Doctor has been mandated to ensure periodic medical check-ups and timely
medical consultation. Provision has also been made for hiring of a school vehicle to facilitate prompt
transportation of students to nearby health facilities in case of medical emergencies.
These measures are collectively aimed at further strengthening health services, improving food safety
practices, and ensuring timely medical response in EMRSs so as to safeguard the health and well-being
of tribal students residing in these schools.
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