Northeast Tribal Students to Benefit from New "Space Labs" Initiative

GUWAHATI: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, aimed at uplifting tribal communities in collaboration with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), has announced the setup of "Space Labs" in 75 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) across 19 states.

This includes prominent Northeastern states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, and Assam, specifically through institutions in the Bodoland Territorial Region. The initiative aims to develop tribal youth's scientific interest and technical skills.

This program, funded under BPCL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative with an allocated amount of Rs 12 crore, targets over 50,000 tribal students and aims to bridge educational gaps in the fields of space science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Ensuring students gain exposure to cutting-edge learning resources, "The labs will be technically guided by ISRO-recognised space tutor agencies and will feature advanced models of launch vehicles, telescopes, Cansat working kits, and teaching-learning materials aligned with India’s space missions."

This collaboration supports the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by promoting inclusive and quality education for Scheduled Tribe students. This step, with 470 EMRS currently functional across the country, is considered crucial for nurturing the next generation of scientists and innovators from tribal backgrounds, especially in remote and neglected areas such as the Northeast.

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