A parliamentary panel has criticised the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for delays in building Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and sports facilities for tribal students.

In its 10th report on action taken over the 2024–25 Demands for Grants, tabled in Parliament on Monday, the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment noted that only 476 of the 717 sanctioned EMRS are operational, with many functioning from rented premises. While 87 new buildings have been completed, construction is ongoing at 222 sites and 120 remain at the pre-construction stage.

The committee urged the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) to adopt a more proactive approach to ensure all schools operate from their own buildings within deadlines.

Progress on Centres of Excellence for Sports in EMRS has also been slow. Of the 15 planned centres, only five locations have been finalised for the first phase, due by June 2026. The remaining 10, targeted for completion by December 2026, still lack confirmed sites.

On the Dharti Abba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, a mission to bridge infrastructure and service gaps in over 63,000 villages, the panel welcomed progress but warned that pending approvals in the AYUSH and skill development ministries could cause delays. It called for faster coordination to meet the 2024–2028 mission timeline.

The committee praised steps such as reducing EMRS land requirements, establishing escrow accounts for funding, and involving the Sports Authority of India in planning. However, it warned that without stronger monitoring and inter-ministerial coordination, flagship tribal welfare programmes risk falling short of their goals.

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