Jual Oram announces Rs 720 crore for setting up Ekalavya Schools in 36 blocks of Meghalaya

Jual Oram, Union Tribal Affairs Minister, has announced Rs 720 crore for setting up of Ekalavya model residential schools in 36 blocks of Meghalaya.

"Every block with more than 50 per cent ST population and at least 20,000 tribal people, will have an Ekalavya model residential school by 2022," he stated.

Currently, the construction of two such schools is undergoing at Samanda in East Garo Hills district and Nongpoh in Ri-Bhoi district in Meghalaya. The construction of the 36 schools will be completed in three years and the cost for setting up each of them is Rs 20 crore.

The Union Minister said, "The central government plans to build over 500 such schools across India. At present, there are 192 such schools all over the country."

These 36 Ekalavya schools will be on par with Navodaya Vidyalayas. They will provide training in sports and skill development, and will also have special facilities for preserving local art and culture.