Foundation stone of Ekalavya Model Residential School laid at Haflong

HAFLONG: The Department of WPT & BC, Assam, with the support of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, has been over the years implementing various schemes for the development of people belonging to ST communities of Assam. Through the schemes, the department has been trying to address various issues related to health, education, infrastructure and income generation of the people belonging to the backward sector.

The 6th Schedule district of Dima Hasao governed by the Autonomous Council is one of the most focused areas for the government and it looks forward to provide necessary assistance for development of the region, stated a press release. In this endeavour, the Government of India has initiated for the construction of 12 Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in Assam for an amount of Rs 24 crore each. In Dima Hasao, a total of four EMRS viz. EMRS-Haflong (to be constructed at Ardaopur), EMRS-Umrangso, EMRS-Mahur and EMRS-Maibong have been earmarked. These schools are an important initiative of the Government of India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, by which it is objectified to provide free residential world class education to ST students. An amount of Rs 24 crore for construction of each school and Rs. 1.09 lakh per student per year for meeting recurring expenditure will be provided by the government. There is a further provision of construction of centres of excellence for sports within the EMRS.

EMRS-Haflong is the first EMRS out of the 12 EMRS for which the construction will start with all the formalities completed. State WPT&BC Minister Chandan Brahma on Friday laid the foundation stone of EMRS Haflong. It will be constructed at Ardaopur which will be a boarding school with capacity of 480 students from Class VI-Class XII for both girls and boys. The school will be constructed within an area of 60 bighas which will constitute staff quarter, academic building, hostel (separate for boys and girls) and playground. The school will be affiliated under CBSE with science, arts and commerce stream. The school will further provide employment opportunities.

Further, Chandan Brahma announced that as a result of the perseverance of the WPT & BC Department, the Government of India would be setting up a Tribal Medical College at Dima Hasao along with Chirang district, for which the Government of India had initially sanctioned an amount of Rs. 100 crore for conceptualization of the project, stated a press release.

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