Bhubaneswar, Dec. 21: The state government will now bear the cost of educating around 5,000 tribal children at English-medium schools every year.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik launched the Anwesha scheme on the inaugural day of Sargi Ful, an annual science and cultural fest for SC and ST students, at Adivasi Ground. The government will sponsor the kids' Class I-XII education under this scheme.

"The scheme aims at a holistic development of the tribal kids. The government would ensure that the students not only receive education in English, but also hone their extracurricular skills and thereby increasing their employment potential in the future," said Naveen.

The government has set a target of educating around one lakh tribal children in English medium schools in the next 10 years. "The selection will be done through lottery to avoid partiality of any kind. The students would receive education in the ICSE or CBSE board depending on which the school is affiliated to," said SC and ST department secretary Surendra Kumar.

The implementation process of the scheme has begun and around 2,660 children have been enrolled in various English schools across the state for the 2015-16 session. Initially, the focus is on 17 tribal-dominated districts. "The children have been enrolled in the English school in the urban centres of their districts. We are going slowly, and in future, students of all the districts will be covered. We also aim to enrol students in various high-end English medium schools in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack," said Kumar.

At present, the students have been put up at rented houses but hostels would shortly be established for them. While Rs 25,000 will be spent annually on the school fees, the students would also receive Rs 800 as scholarship every month.

Although the start to the fest was gloomy with rain playing spoilsport, but the announcement brought smiles on their faces.

"We always wanted to study in good schools. But we neither got the chance and nor could we afford it. I am extremely happy that brothers and sisters from my community can receive quality education," said Sumani Mahananda, a participant from Malkangiri.