Government is planning to extend the facility of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) in all the 672 Blocks in next five years where ST population is more than 50 per cent of the total population. Tribal Affairs Ministry said, 51 new such residential schools were made functional during the last three years. 161 EMR Schools are functional right now and more than 52 thousand tribal students are taking education in these schools in 26 States.<br/><br/>Eklavya Model Residential School Scheme was started in 1998 and first school was started in the year 2000 in Maharashtra. A total of 259 schools have been sanctioned during the last 17 years, out of which, 72 EMRS were sanctioned during last three years.