Foundation for Eklavya Model Residential School Laid in Kalimpong

KalimNews, February 7, 2026, Kalimpong:  IIn a significant enhancement to educational infrastructure in the hill region, the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Eklavya Model Residential School building was held at Charkhol in the Kalimpong district on Friday. The EMRS project, being constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs 46 crore, is expected to play a transformative role in the education sector of Charkhol and surrounding areas. Once completed, the fully residential school will provide quality education, modern facilities, and a holistic learning environment to tribal and rural students, enabling them to compete on par with students from other regions.

Kalimpong MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha, who was the chief guest at the groundbreaking ceremony in the presence of GTA Sabha Member Hemant Thulung, described the EMRS project as “a historic step towards strengthening educational opportunities for indigenous communities. It is Bengal's 8th Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in Kalimpong district. EMRS provides free education to Scheduled Tribal children under a residential setup. With the district boasting a large tribal population, the school is being perceived as a big boon.”

"The establishment of this school will be an added infrastructure for the development of the Charkhol village into a mini town, which is already renowned as an Eco Tourism village," Sada added.

“The school will be under the supervision of the Tribal Development department of the Bengal government. It is absolutely free-of-cost. The present temporary campus at the Lepcha Youth Hostel in Deorali, Kalimpong will be shifted to this campus after the completion of construction. After the completion of the permanent campus, the school will be shifted to Charkhol, in the remote part of the district,” he added.

The model schools are from class 6 to class 12 with a capacity of 420 students. This school was started on March 1, 2024 with class 6 with 70 students here in Kalimpong. The school was inaugurated by Ruden Sada Lepcha, MLA Kalimpong in the presence of the District Magistrate and other officials.

The 8th EMRS in the state is a co-education school, under the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education.