Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has said that the state government is planning to set up Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in all 58 blocks of the state so that more tribal students, especially those living in far-flung and rural areas, can get access to quality education. Speaking at a programme on January 1, Saha said the government is placing special focus on improving education facilities for students belonging to Scheduled Tribes. He said the aim is to ensure that good schooling is not limited to urban centres but reaches students living in interior areas as well. The EMRS scheme is funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. These schools provide residential education for tribal students so that they can study in a safe environment and get better opportunities for higher education in the future.
The Chief Minister pointed out that before the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in Tripura in 2018, the state had only four such schools. After that, the central government sanctioned 21 EMRSs for Tripura. Out of these, 12 are already running, while two more are expected to start functioning by March 2026. Saha said the state government now wants to expand the scheme further so that every block has one such school. He added that during his recent visit to New Delhi, he requested the Centre to relax the existing rules for setting up EMRSs in Tripura. At present, a block must have at least 50 per cent tribal population and a tribal population of 20,000 or more to qualify for an EMRS. According to Saha, these norms make it difficult to open schools in some areas where tribal communities are present but do not meet the population threshold.
He said he hoped that the Centre would consider Tripura’s request and allow flexibility so that more schools can be established. The Chief Minister added that such a move would help strengthen education among tribal communities and support the larger goal of inclusive development. Saha also said that the state government remains committed to ensuring that tribal children receive equal access to education and opportunities. He stated that EMRS institutions play an important role in creating an environment where tribal students can focus on studies without disruption.
