Tribal Education In West Bengal With Special References To Ekalavya Model Residential Schools: A Case Study

India has the largest tribal population in the world, accounting for 8.6% of the total population. According to the 2011 Census of India, this accounts for 8.6 percent of the total population of the country. Various initiatives and schemes of the central government and various state governments in India cover the aspect of education for the scheduled tribes. Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) is a Government of India scheme for a model residential English medium school, specifically for Scheduled Tribes across India. EMRSs started in 1997–98 to impart quality education to ST children. The schools focus not only on academic education but also on the all- round development of the students. Each school has a capacity of 480 students, from Class VI to XII. The study objective is to assess the functionality of the Eklavya model residential schools situated in West Bengal, taking into consideration different aspects of a school-system and any other important aspect presented. This study will help to know the present condition of the Eklavya Model Residential School Program and help to look beyond the ambiguities concerning the status of these schools. The methodology followed was qualitative in nature. The study has different sources, like data that was gathered through interviews (both with teachers and students), observation by the researcher, and official documents from the Government of India’s Ministry of Tribal Affairs. This study can serve as first-hand data on all the Eklavya Model Residential Schools in West Bengal and their current status.