Government of India started EMRS in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas of the country in order to enable them to avail of opportunities in high and professional educational courses and get employment in various sectors. The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of the students. Each school has a maximum capacity of 480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII. Till date, the Ministry of Tribal Affair, GOI has sanctioned 271 EMRS all over India, out of which 190 have been made functional while the rest are at different stages of completion.

There are seven ‘Eklavya Model Residential Schools’ functioning in West Bengal in the following Districts (1) Bankura (2) Purulia (3) Burdwan (4) Jhargram (5) Jalpaiguri (6) Birbhum (7) Dakshin Dinajpur. These are English Medium Schools under the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education.

The students who are admitted to these schools are provided with scholarships, free food and lodging etc., Computer education has also been introduced in all the schools from class VI.