New Delhi: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has entered into a significant partnership with the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) to strengthen education and infrastructure at Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) across India. The collaboration is part of ONGC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives aimed at empowering tribal students through improved learning facilities and career-focused support.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The event was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, NSTFDC, and ONGC, including Secretary Ranjana Chopra, Additional Secretary Manish Thakur, Joint Secretary Anant Prakash Pandey, CMD NSTFDC Roumuan Paite, and ONGC Director (HR) Manish Patil.
Focus on Education and Skill Development
The MoU focuses on enhancing educational outcomes for tribal students by improving digital learning infrastructure, strengthening school facilities, and providing career mentorship. Special emphasis has been placed on capacity building of teachers, career counselling, and entrepreneurship training to help students prepare for future opportunities.
Addressing the gathering, Secretary Ranjana Chopra highlighted that education plays a vital role in building a self-reliant and empowered society, especially for tribal communities. She emphasized that such partnerships are crucial for ensuring inclusive and sustainable development.
₹28 Crore CSR Investment for Holistic Growth
Under this CSR initiative, ONGC has approved funding of ₹28 crore. The investment will support:
- Digital classrooms and learning tools
- Health and hygiene interventions, particularly for girl students
- Teacher training and capacity building
- Career guidance and entrepreneurship development programs
The project will be implemented in 144 Eklavya Model Residential Schools spread across 11 States and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Impact on Tribal Students Nationwide
The programme is expected to benefit over 35,000 tribal students, helping bridge educational gaps and providing equal access to quality learning resources. The initiative aligns with the Central Sector Scheme of EMRS, under which 499 EMRS are currently operational across the country to provide quality education to Scheduled Tribe students.
This ONGC–NSTFDC collaboration reflects the growing role of the corporate sector in supporting national development goals and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat through inclusive growth.
About ONGC
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) is India’s largest crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company. A Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, ONGC plays a key role in ensuring the country’s energy security while actively contributing to social development through impactful CSR initiatives across education, health, environment, and community welfare.
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