The Centre will set up 562 more Ekalavya Model Residential Schools in tribal areas of the country. Briefing media in New Delhi on the budgetary provisions of his ministry, Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said, 271 such schools have already been sanctioned out of which, 190 are currently operational.
Mr. Oram said the government is committed to providing quality education to tribal children and it has been announced in the Budget that by the year 2022, every block with at least 20 thousand tribal persons, will have an Ekalavya School. He said, such schools provide boarding and lodging facilities to tribal students and will be brought at par with the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyala through high-quality education.
Mr. Oram also disclosed that 24 items of forest produce are now being given Minimum Support Price, which will substantially increase the income of the tribal population. The Tribal Affairs Ministry has been allocated an amount of six thousand crore rupees for new financial year. In 2017-18, it received over 5329 crores rupees.