Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) to implement CSR-funded infrastructure and capability development at Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).
The MoU aims to empower tribal students through career mentorship, digital education, and augmentation of school infrastructure. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal ministry for the Central Sector EMRS Scheme, which seeks to provide quality education to tribal students through a blend of academics, technology, and holistic development. As of date, 499 EMRS are functional across India.
The MoU was signed on January 5, 2026, at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, between Smt. Bismita Das, Deputy General Manager, NSTFDC, and Dr. Debasish Mukharjee, CSR Head, ONGC, in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, NSTFDC and ONGC.
CSR Project Details:
ONGC has sanctioned Rs 28 crore to strengthen digital learning infrastructure, implement health and hygiene interventions for girl students (including sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators), capacity building of teachers, and provide career counselling and entrepreneurship training. The initiative will cover 144 EMRS across 11 States and Union Territories—Andhra Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand—and is expected to benefit over 35,000 tribal students.
The initiative forms part of a broader collaboration between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the corporate sector to advance the socio-economic development of tribal communities, supporting the national vision of Viksit Bharat.