Eklavya Model Residential School students in Chhattisgarh have launched their third protest, citing teacher shortages, hostel problems, transport gaps and delays in study materials despite repeated assurances.

Third Protest in a Month

Students of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in Chhattisgarh have taken to protest for the third time in a month, saying assurances from authorities have not translated into meaningful improvements.

The students are demanding better educational facilities, adequate transportation and timely access to essential resources. Their latest agitation has again brought attention to gaps in schools designed specifically to provide quality residential education to children from Scheduled Tribe communities.

The repeated protests raise a basic question: if these schools are meant to provide a model residential education, why are students still fighting for basic academic and residential facilities?

Teacher Shortage Hits Classes

One of the students' key complaints is the shortage of teaching staff.

Students say inadequate teacher availability is affecting regular academic work, particularly when they are expected to prepare for board examinations and other competitive opportunities.

The issue is significant because EMRS schools are intended to provide free, quality education from Classes 6 to 12 and help tribal students compete on an equal footing with students elsewhere. Chhattisgarh's official EMRS admission policy lists quality education and preparation for competitive examinations among the scheme's objectives.

The state has separately highlighted teacher rationalisation and improved subject-wise availability across government schools. However, the current EMRS protests suggest that students in some residential schools continue to experience staffing gaps.

Hostel Problems Add to Frustration

Because EMRS students live on campus, poor hostel conditions directly affect both their education and daily lives.

The students have raised concerns over inadequate hostel amenities and basic infrastructure, according to the latest protest reports. A separate protest by Eklavya students earlier this month also highlighted demands related to basic facilities such as drinking water, sanitation, electricity and hostel conditions.

These concerns are particularly important because residential infrastructure is not an optional add-on in the EMRS model. The programme's stated framework includes reliable water supply, sanitation, electricity, hostel facilities, dining areas and accommodation for wardens and support staff.

Transport Remains a Problem

Students have also raised concerns about transport arrangements, particularly for those travelling to and from remote areas.

For a residential education programme serving tribal communities, transport is not merely a convenience. Chhattisgarh's own EMRS policy lists travel expenses for students travelling between home and school among the facilities provided under the scheme.

When transport arrangements are delayed or inadequate, the impact can extend beyond inconvenience. Students may struggle to reach home during holidays or return to school on time, while families in remote areas face additional logistical and financial pressure.

Study Materials Arrive Late

Another recurring complaint is the delay in study materials, including educational resources that students are supposed to receive through the residential-school system.

The state's EMRS policy explicitly lists textbooks, notebooks and writing materials among the facilities provided to students.

For students preparing for examinations, delayed books and other materials can mean lost classroom time and increased dependence on whatever resources they can obtain themselves.

This is especially significant for students from remote tribal communities, for whom the school may be the primary source of structured academic resources.

Why Promises Are Being Questioned

The central issue behind the third protest is not simply one unresolved complaint. Students say earlier assurances have failed to produce sufficient change, according to the Times of India report.

That makes the latest agitation a test of implementation rather than policy.

The EMRS programme already promises free education, residential facilities, meals, uniforms, learning materials, travel support and medical care in Chhattisgarh.

The gap between what the programme promises on paper and what students say they experience on campus is therefore the key accountability question.

A Wider Warning Sign

The concerns also come against a broader backdrop of rising EMRS dropouts.

Official data reported in 2025 showed that 88 students dropped out of EMRSs in Chhattisgarh during 2024-25, the highest number among states listed in that year's figures. Across India, EMRS dropouts rose from 111 in 2021-22 to 552 in 2024-25.

The protest movement should not automatically be treated as proof that poor facilities caused those dropouts. But the two developments underline the importance of ensuring that residential tribal schools provide the academic and living conditions promised to students.

What the Department Must Answer

The Chhattisgarh Tribal and Scheduled Caste Development Department should provide a clear response on how many EMRS schools currently have teacher vacancies, which schools face hostel and transport deficiencies, when pending study materials will be supplied and what deadlines have been set for resolving the complaints.

As of the latest publicly available reports reviewed for this story, a detailed, school-wise response from the department addressing the students' latest allegations was not available. The department's response should be sought and incorporated before publication.

For the students, however, the issue is already clear: this is their third protest, and they want earlier assurances to become visible changes inside their classrooms, hostels and daily routines.