Tripura Gets Six New Eklavya Schools as BJP-Tipra Motha Talks Intensify Ahead of Village Committee Polls

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, August 9, 2026

Tripura is set to strengthen its tribal education infrastructure with six new Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), while parallel political developments have kept open the possibility of an electoral understanding between the ruling BJP and its alliance partner, Tipra Motha, for the forthcoming Village Committee elections in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) areas.

Tripura Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma met Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and conveyed his gratitude to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for its support towards the operationalisation of six additional EMRS institutions in the state. The approval is expected to facilitate the smooth functioning of the newly established schools and further expand access to quality residential education for Scheduled Tribe students, particularly those living in remote and underserved areas.

According to information available on Tripura's EMRS network, the Centre has sanctioned 21 Eklavya Model Residential Schools for the state. Earlier, 12 schools had been reported as operational, with the latest expansion aimed at substantially increasing the number of functional institutions. The EMRS programme provides residential education to tribal students from Class VI to XII, with education, boarding, food, books and other essential facilities provided free of cost under the scheme. The schools are affiliated with the CBSE system and are intended not only to improve academic opportunities but also to promote sports, skill development and preservation of tribal culture and identity.

The six new institutions are part of Tripura's broader effort to take quality residential education closer to tribal communities. Earlier government plans had envisaged expanding the EMRS network across the state's tribal-dominated areas, with the long-term objective of reducing school dropouts and improving educational access for indigenous students.

The minister's meeting with Jual Oram was also attended by Tapash Ranjan Bhowmik, Executive Engineer of the Tripura Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TTWREIS), and Madan Gopal Modak, Deputy Executive Officer of the Tripura Housing Board. However, the statement did not specify the individual locations of the six newly approved institutions or provide a detailed timeline for their operationalisation.

The education-related development comes at a politically significant time for Tripura, with the BJP and Tipra Motha continuing discussions over their strategy for the upcoming TTAADC Village Committee elections.

Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Saturday indicated that the possibility of the BJP and Tipra Motha contesting the Village Committee elections together remains open. Responding to questions on recent BJP organisational meetings in New Delhi and speculation over the future of the alliance, Saha said discussions had been constructive but that no final decision had yet been taken.

Asked specifically whether the two parties could contest the elections together, the Chief Minister replied, “It may happen.” He said further details would be made public once the discussions were concluded.

more news...