Udaipur: The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has issued directives to all Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) societies across states and union territories to ensure 100% testing of students for sickle cell disease. These tests will be conducted in coordination with district administrations or district collectors, utilizing available public health facilities at the district level.
This directive was issued following a question raised in Parliament by MP Dr. Manna Lal Rawat, seeking detailed information about EMRS schools.
Dr. Rawat’s questions covered several aspects, including:
•    Total number of teachers recruited in EMRS schools and the number of female teachers,
•    The authority responsible for defining service conditions,
•    Affiliation to education boards,
•    Curriculum and co-curricular activities taught in schools,
•    Yoga education for students, and
•    Systems in place for testing diseases like sickle cell anemia.
In response, Tribal Affairs Minister Durga Das Udke stated that NESTS has directed 100% testing of EMRS students for sickle cell disease. The testing will be coordinated by district administrations, with assistance from public health facilities, and carried out in cooperation with state governments, union territory administrations, and district health systems. The objective is early detection and timely medical intervention wherever necessary.
According to information provided in the ESSE-2023 recruitment process, a total of 7,083 teaching staff have been recruited across EMRS, including 2,765 female teaching staff. In Rajasthan, 367 female staff have been recruited across Alwar, Banswara, Baran, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Karauli, Pratapgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Sirohi, Tonk, and Udaipur districts, with 95 female staff recruited in Udaipur alone.
Service conditions for teachers and other staff are determined by the governing body of NESTS. Out of the 499 operational EMRS schools, 458 are affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), while the remaining schools in Bihar, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal are affiliated with their respective state education boards.