District: Nellore (Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore), Andhra Pradesh

In the context of the trend of establishing quality residential schools for the promotion of education in all areas and habitations in the country, the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for ST students take their place among the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and the Kendriya Vidyalayas.

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are set up in States/UTs with grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India. States/UTs are free to apportion funds out of their Article 275(1) Grants to construct and run additional EMRS over the number sanctioned by the Ministry.

The State Governments/UT Administration will ask for new EMRS after ensuring that all the existing EMRSs have been made functional. Ministry support for the EMRS programme is subject to high quality of management and running of the schools — timely flow of funds, recruitment of teachers, medical facilities, clean surroundings, nutritious food, and a healthy environment for academic and overall development of children.

The objective of EMRS is to provide quality middle and high level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas, not only to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and jobs in government, public and private sectors, but also to have access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non-ST population. This is achieved by:

1. Comprehensive physical, mental and socially relevant development of all students. Students are empowered to be change agents — beginning in school, then at home, in the village and in the larger society.
2. Differential educational support for Standards XI–XII and Standards VI–X, so that distinctive needs are met.
3. Support for annual running expenses that offers reasonable remuneration to staff and upkeep of facilities.
4. Infrastructure that serves the educational, physical, environmental and cultural needs of student life.