Adopt rigorous monitoring to complete construction of Eklavya residential schools: House Panel
The committee also urged MoTA to finalise the pending locations for 10 out of 15 centres of excellence for sports proposed to be built within the residential schools meant for tribal students.
Regarding the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utarkash Abhiyan scheme, the committee noted that many line ministries, which are crucial to the scheme's implementation, have yet to approve it. The Dharti Aaba scheme is targeted towards the saturation implementation of welfare schemes through 17 line ministries.
The committee's report pertained to the action taken by the Centre on its recommendations in an earlier report on MoTA's Demand for Grants. 'In the action taken reply of the Ministry, the committee finds that the majority of new schools are being run from the rental buildings as only 87 school buildings have been constructed so far,' the committee noted in its report.
BJP MP from Bengaluru Central, P C Mohan, chairs the parliamentary standing committee.
The committee noted that EMRS is very crucial for providing quality education to the tribal students, particularly in remote areas. It added that thus, National Education Society for Tribal Students (NEST), should adopt a more concerted, result oriented and pro-active approach through continuous and rigorous monitoring of all activities related to construction of schools.
In its March report, the House panel had recommended to MoTA that all old EMRS be upgraded in a time-bound manner and new schools sanctioned be made functional in their own building. It had also recommended that requisite funds and necessary guidance should be provided to executing agencies to avoid a shortage of funds for the scheme.
The residential schools for students belonging to the Scheduled Tribe community were set up from 1988 onwards. Initially, 288 schools were funded through grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution. In 2018-19, the Central sector scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School was started to provide quality education at par with Navodaya Vidyalaya to tribal children in their environment.
Under the new scheme, the government decided to establish 440 EMRS, one in every block that has more than 50 per cent of ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011). The new target is to set up 728 schools for 3.5 lakh tribal ST students, as per government data.
The government informed the panel that out of 288 schools approved previously, 256 have been completed up till January 17, work was progressing on 23, and 9 were in the pre-construction stage. Out of the 717 locations approved for EMRS, 476 are already functional.
'The proposal for upgradation of 189 old Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) has been approved. NESTS is consistently engaging with state governments to make use of this opportunity,' MoTA informed the House panel.
The committee had said in its March report that out of 452 EMRS sanctioned, 223 are functional, and 211 out of 288 old EMRS have been identified for upgradation. The committee had also noted challenges such as the availability of appropriate land, non-availability of construction material due to state government policy, extreme weather conditions, non-availability of electricity supply, in the construction of EMRS.
An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change.
Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
15 minutes ago
- The Hindu
South Korean prosecutors raid party headquarters after arrest of former first lady Kim Keon Hee
South Korean prosecutors raided the headquarters of the former party of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday (August 13, 2025) to gather evidence in an election meddling case against his wife, a day after she was arrested on corruption and other charges. 'Former first lady Kim Keon Hee was arrested on Tuesday (August 12, 2025) on a range of charges including stock manipulation and corruption,' prosecutors said. Her arrest came hours after Seoul Central District Court reviewed the prosecutors' request for an arrest warrant against the 52-year-old. The court granted the warrant, citing the risk of tampering with evidence, after prosecutors submitted an 848-page opinion laying out Ms. Kim's alleged "unlawful acts". Prosecutors said on Wednesday (August 13, 2025) they raided the People Power Party office to collect evidence of Kim's alleged meddling in Parliamentary elections. Yoon quit the party in May after his removal from office but endorsed its candidate in the snap Presidential election that was won by the Democratic Party's Lee Jae Myung. Opposition leader Song Eon-seog slammed the raid as "nothing short of gangster behaviour." "I cannot contain my outrage at the Lee Jae Myung administration's ruthless political persecution and retaliation against the Opposition, spearheaded by the special prosecution," Song said at a news briefing. With the arrest, South Korea now has a former President and first lady both behind bars for the first time in the nation's history. The charges against Ms. Kim include violations of capital market and financial investment laws, as well as political funds laws. The arrest caps a dramatic fall for the former first couple after Yoon's stunning martial law declaration on December 3, which saw soldiers deployed to Parliament but was swiftly voted down by the Opposition MPs. Yoon, a former top prosecutor, was impeached and removed from office in April over the martial law declaration, prompting the country to hold a snap election in June. He has been in detention since July 10. Criticised over handbag Last week, Ms. Kim underwent hours-long questioning by prosecutors, who filed for an arrest warrant the next day. "I sincerely apologise for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance," Ms. Kim said as she arrived at the prosecutors' office on Wednesday (August 13, 2025.) Controversy has long surrounded Ms. Kim, with lingering questions about her alleged role in stock manipulation. Public criticism was reignited in 2022 when a left-wing pastor filmed himself presenting her with a Dior handbag that she appeared to accept. She is also accused of interfering in the nomination process for MPs in Yoon Suk Yeol's party, a violation of election laws. Yoon, as President, vetoed three special investigation Bills passed by the Opposition-controlled Parliament that sought to probe the allegations against Ms. Kim, with the last veto issued in late November. A week later, Yoon declared martial law. Investigators also searched an interior company allegedly linked to Ms. Kim in connection with suspected favouritism in repairs to the Presidential office. While she would typically have been held at the same detention centre as her husband, prosecutors on Monday (August 11, 2025) requested that she be detained at a separate facility about 20 km (13 miles) away. Her Presidential Security Service protection was terminated once the warrant was issued. Ms. Kim can be held for up to 20 days as prosecutors prepare to formally indict her, legal expert Kim Nam-ju told AFP. "Once Kim is indicted, she could remain detained for up to six months," the lawyer said. The former first lady can challenge the warrant in court as unlawful, "but given the current circumstances, there appears to be a high risk of evidence destruction, making it unlikely that the warrant will be revoked and the individual released," he added. "Another option is bail, but this too is not granted if there are concerns about the destruction of evidence."
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Bihar Woman Condemns Congress Leaders For Using Her Image Without Permission In Voter Fraud Protest
A resident of Bihar's Siwan district has strongly criticized senior Congress politicians for using her photograph and name on protest apparel without seeking her approval. The controversy emerged after opposition members wore clothing bearing her image during demonstrations at Parliament regarding suspected electoral irregularities. The woman at the center of the dispute expressed outrage over the unauthorized use of her identity by prominent political figures. She questioned the authority of these leaders to feature her likeness on their protest merchandise, specifically calling out the actions of high-ranking Congress members who participated in Tuesday's demonstration. The political controversy began when opposition lawmakers alleged discrepancies in voter registration data, claiming that the Bihar resident was incorrectly listed as being 124 years old in official electoral records. The protesters wore specially designed shirts displaying her photograph on the front and "124 Not Out" printed on the back during their Parliament premises demonstration. However, the subject of the protest has now spoken out against this political theater. She demanded to know what gave these politicians the right to use her image for their political messaging, expressing particular frustration with being made the face of their campaign without consultation. While acknowledging that errors do exist in her voter registration details, she confirmed that according to her Aadhaar documentation, her actual birth date is July 15, 1990. She criticized the registration mistake and sarcastically questioned why she doesn't receive senior citizen benefits if the government considers her to be 124 years old. The woman further expressed displeasure with the opposition's approach to highlighting her case, stating that she disapproves of their methods and wants the political use of her identity to cease. She emphasized that her primary concern is getting her voter registration information corrected, not becoming a political symbol. The parliamentary protest involved multiple opposition leaders from various parties, who gathered at Parliament's Makar Dwar to demand accountability from the Election Commission regarding alleged voter list fraud. The demonstration was part of broader allegations about irregularities in electoral roll preparation. This incident highlights the complex dynamics between political activism and individual privacy rights, particularly when citizens become unwitting symbols in political disputes. The case underscores questions about consent and representation in political protests, especially when ordinary citizens find themselves thrust into national political discourse without their permission.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey Lauds Passing Of National Sports Governance Bill, Says: "Benefits..."
Minister Mansukh Mandaviya after Parliament passed the National Sports Governance and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, saying that this act will ensure that our athletes are clean, especially when the country is about to host a major international game. The bill was introduced by Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to provide a robust legal framework for sports governance in India, promoting transparency, accountability, and athlete welfare. While speaking to ANI, Kalyan Chaubey said, "I congratulate Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya for bringing this Act after 4 decades... This Act benefits Indian sports in two major areas. Firstly, forming a National Sports Board that will have the authority to grant or cancel registration or recognition of a sports organisation. To see sports must have ethics and safe sports policy, especially athletes below 18, or including girls and women." "Secondly, the issue about hundreds of litigations, pending in courts, will be addressed by the Sports Tribunal, saving unnecessary spending which will now be used for the development of sports... It also addresses the misuse of the name "India" or Indian insignia by parallel sports bodies. This Act will ensure that our athletes are clean, especially when the country is about to host a major international game," he added. This landmark legislation stands as the country's first unified and comprehensive legal framework for sports governance--an achievement that brings decades of calls for reform to fruition. For over a decade, efforts to establish such a robust law have been ongoing, dating back to 2011. Despite various attempts and drafts, a bill of this vision and scale had never reached Parliament--let alone won approval--until now. The National Sports Governance Bill paves the way for a new standard of transparency, accountability, and ethical management in sports. The legislation sets clear expectations for National Sports Federations and the Indian Olympic Association, ensuring mechanisms for fair elections, financial openness, and inclusive representation. Significantly, it mandates athlete commissions, a strong voice for players in governing bodies, and at least thirty per cent women's representation to promote gender equality in sports administration. With robust structures to safeguard athlete welfare--particularly for women and minors--and strict anti-doping and safe sport regulations, the bill puts the needs and rights of athletes at the heart of Indian sports. Also, the Bill's alignment with the Olympic and Paralympic Charters shows India's determination not just to compete--but to lead--on the global sports map, as the nation sets its sights on hosting the 2036 Olympic Games and achieving developed-nation status by 2047. By enshrining best practices in law, the Bill eliminates ambiguity and offers a unified structure where transparent administration, gender equality, and swift conflict resolution are the norm, not the exception.
