Bhubaneswar: Student dropouts from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), established to provide quality education to tribal children, have seen a sharp increase in recent years. As per official data, 552 dropout cases were recorded in 2024–25, a significant rise from 111 cases in 2021–22.
The highest number of dropouts in the 2024–25
academic year was reported from Chhattisgarh (88), followed by Odisha (87) and
Madhya Pradesh (71). The information was provided by Minister of State for
Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Between 2021–22 and 2024–25, a total of 1,233
tribal students dropped out of EMRSs. The dropout trend has shown a
year-on-year increase — from 111 in 2021–22 to 241 in 2022–23, 329 in 2023–24,
and 552 in 2024–25.
Odisha recorded 84 dropouts in 2023–24 and 87
in 2024–25, while Chhattisgarh witnessed a dramatic rise from just 2 dropouts
in 2021–22 to 88 in 2024–25. Madhya Pradesh, which topped the list in 2022–23
with 101 cases, reported a decline to 71 in 2024–25. Jharkhand, on the other
hand, managed to reduce the number of dropouts from 30 in 2022–23 to just 6 in
2024–25.
Other states with significant dropout figures
in 2024–25 include Maharashtra (68), Andhra Pradesh (66), Rajasthan (45), and
Telangana (37).
EMRSs are centrally funded residential schools
located in tribal-majority regions to enhance access to quality education. As
of July 14, 2025, a total of 479 EMRSs are functional out of 728 sanctioned
across the country.
To curb the rising dropout rate, especially
among students from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), the
government has initiated several measures. These include the introduction of
digital classrooms, provision of nutritious meals, counselling services, and
vocational education in modern subjects such as artificial intelligence and
coding.
“All facilities — including secure hostels,
CBSE-aligned curriculum and healthcare — are being provided free of cost to
eliminate economic barriers,” Uikey stated. He also highlighted that awareness
campaigns are being conducted in remote tribal areas to encourage enrolment and
retention.
The National Education Society for Tribal
Students (NESTS), which implements the EMRS scheme, has undertaken large-scale
recruitment and instructed states to appoint guest teachers and non-teaching
staff wherever necessary.
Funding under the scheme has been significantly increased — from Rs 1,200 crore in 2020–21 to Rs 4,748.92 crore in 2024–25 — to bridge infrastructure gaps and improve educational outcomes for tribal students.