Naveen seeks more model schools for primitive tribes in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Aug 7 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today urged Union Minister for Tribal Affairs P R Kyndiah to sanction more Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for Primitive Tribal group in the state.

Mr Patnaik, in a discussion with Mr Kyndiah in New Delhi, said the residential schools for the primitive tribes had proved to be very helpful in improving the quality of tribal education in the state.

Stating that the pass percentage in these EMRS was 85 per cent at the High School level, the Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to sanction 17 new EMRS for Primitive Tribal Group areas and another 12 more for other tribal areas in the state.

The Chief Minister apprised the Union Minister about the comprehensive village-wise Conservation-cum-Development Plan for 13 Primitive Tribal Groups in 17 locations, submitted by the Orissa government.

The Rs 64 crore proposal during the Eleventh Plan period, he said, envisaged schemes like Educational Complexes, Horticultural Plantations, Land Development, Upgradation of Anganwadi Centres to Multi-purpose Service Centres.

Official sources said the Union Minister had promised to consider both the proposals favourably.

Mr Patnaik asserted that the state government had proposed to set up 1,000 Girls' Hostels, one each for one lakh tribal girl students in the state.

He said such a proposal would go a long way in bridging the educational gap of the tribals, who constituted almost 24 per cent population of the state.

He further said since 45 per cent of the state's geographical area had been notified as Scheduled Area, the State Government had given a proposal for sanction of 50 per cent share under the Centrally-Sponsored Scheme for Girls' Hostels for Scheduled Tribes for 276 hostels last year.

Mr Patnaik said the State Government had already made available its own share for this purpose and urged the Union Minister to sanction Rs 12 crore as Central share on a priority basis.

UNI