KV-like body set up to establish schools for tribals

New Delhi: The Centre has set up a society like the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to deliver on its promise of setting up premier Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in every tribal-dominated block by 2022.

The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has been tasked to oversee the EMRS project in every block with more than 50% residents belonging to the scheduled tribes and at least 20,000 tribal people.

The plan was unveiled in the Budget 2018-19 and has been included in its 100-day agenda.

NESTS was a symbolic name given to signify how the government plans to make EMRS cradles for tribal children and bring them at par with the national standards of education in public schools.

NESTS would sign agreements with the state governments and oversee the work of construction of sanctioned schools and handhold the states in setting them up with dedicated teaching and assisting staff. The proposal was approved by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).

It, however, observed that merely constructing EMRS won’t be enough. They needed dedicated teachers for the tribal children.

Though finances have not been an issue, there has been a big gap in implementation on the ground.