“By strengthening education, we sow the seeds of lasting development and build the foundation of an empowered society” – Ranjana Chopra, Secretary of Tribal Affairs
NEW DELHI (India CSR): In a path breaking step towards welfare of tribal youth, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), a Maharatna company operating under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), an autonomous body of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The MoU is aimed at empowerment of tribal students enrolled in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) through career mentorship, digital education and augmentation of infrastructure development.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs is steering the Central Sector Scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) to provide quality education to the tribal students. Such schools signify a pivotal step in the direction of nurturing a modern and enlightened generation through a mix of education, technology and holistic development. There are 499 functional EMRS across the country as on date.
The MoU was signed on 5th January 2026 and exchanged between Bismita Das, Deputy General Manager, NSTFDC and Dr. Debasish Mukharjee, CSR Head, ONGC at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi in the august presence of Secretary M/o Tribal Affairs, Ranjana Chopra, Additional Secretary M/o Tribal Affairs, Manish Thakur, Joint Secretary M/o Tribal Affairs, Anant Prakash Pandey, CMD NSTFDC, Roumuan Paite, Director HR ONGC, Manish Patil, and other senior officers from the Ministries and ONGC.
Details of CSR funded project: ONGC has sanctioned Rs. 28 crores towards strengthening of digital learning infrastructure, health and hygiene interventions for girl students (sanitary pads vending machines & incinerators), capacity building of teachers and career counseling & entrepreneurship training of students in 144 EMRS located in 11 States & UTs (Andhra Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand). The said initiative will benefit over 35000 tribal students, in accessing equal opportunities.
This initiative is part of a broader collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Corporate Sector to improve the socio-economic development of tribal communities enabling them to march towards the goal of Viksit Bharat.
(India CSR)
