CSR Watch: ONGC signs MoU with NSTFDC to support Eklavya Model Residential Schools

New Delhi: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) to implement CSR-funded infrastructure and education-focused initiatives at Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) across the country.

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The MoU aims to empower tribal students through career mentorship, digital education and augmentation of school infrastructure. NSTFDC is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, while ONGC is a Maharatna CPSE operating under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

The agreement has been signed and exchanged on Monday at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, in the presence of Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ranjana Chopra. Additional Secretary Manish Thakur, Joint Secretary Anant Prakash Pandey, CMD NSTFDC Roumuan Paite, Director (HR) ONGC Manish Patil and other senior officials were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, Ranjana Chopra said that strengthening education is key to building an empowered society and achieving lasting development for tribal communities.

Under the CSR project, ONGC has sanctioned Rs 28 crore for strengthening digital learning infrastructure, health and hygiene interventions for girl students, capacity building of teachers, and career counselling and entrepreneurship training for students. The initiative will cover 144 EMRS located across 11 States and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The programme is expected to benefit over 35,000 tribal students by improving access to quality education and equal opportunities.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the Central Sector Scheme of EMRS to provide quality education to tribal students, with 499 EMRS currently functional across India. The ONGC–NSTFDC collaboration forms part of a broader effort involving the corporate sector to support socio-economic development of tribal communities in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

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