Shillong, Nov 17: Union minister for tribal affairs, Jual Oram on Saturday said that 36 Ekalavya Model Residential School (EMRS) will be constructed at the cost of Rs 20 crore each in a time frame of three years across Meghalaya.

He said this while addressing as Chief Guest at the inauguration of Rev. Fr. D. J Wollaston Annexe building at St. Anthony’s College, Shillong.

Reiterating his Ministry’s commitment towards upliftment of tribal population across the country, the Minister mentioned that the construction of two EMRS is currently going on in two different places in Meghalaya and those will be completed very soon.

The Minister assured that his ministry will extend all possible help for infrastructural development of Meghalaya.

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma said that the State Government has been giving highest priority to education as it an agent of change.

“Education is the fundamental to all round development and growth of the State. There should be equal participation and equal role from Government sector, Research Institutes and Industries to develop the State at a faster pace.

Talking about the role of the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Chief Minister quoted his late father, PA Sangma’s core thrust on education that education is the agent of change. “P.A Sangma put in an idea and the goal, that if we have to take Meghalaya forward and change the future of the state and its children, it has to be through education.”

He said that there is an urgent need to properly polish the human resources of the State with skill and knowledge. “Until and unless we have a proper policy to harness and groom our talents, we will not be able to take maximum advantage of the infrastructure we create,” he added.

He urged researchers and academia to provide constructive suggestion for framing policies to better the infrastructure and opportunities for the youth. “The Government and academia should collaborate in the initiative to promote entrepreneurship and business development in the state and generate revenue,” he said.

The Wollaston Annexe at St. Anthony’s College, Shillong has 27 classrooms along with laboratories, three departmental offices and one executive conference hall.

An array of cultural programmes were also performed by students of the college on the occasion.

Among other dignitaries who were present on the occasion include State Planning Board Chairman, Lambor Malngiang, Archbishop of Shillong Archdiocese, Most Rev Dominic Jala, teachers, students and other invitees.