Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 03:
Though the respective states have to bear all infrastructure development expenses of Sainik Schools, Manipur Government is not handing out sufficient funds for the same in Imphal Sainik School.
The Center has sanctioned Rs 2 crores each for all 22 Sainik schools of the country run by the Ministry of Defence as one time grant, but Sainik school Imphal, which has nearly 600 students, is yet to develop and construct the required infrastructure with that amount.
What is more disturbing is the fact that the State Government is not giving due amount of its scholarship to its students reading in this school.
The total amount payable to a student per year is Rs 65,000 of which Rs 10,000 is provided by the Ministry of defence.
Colonel Arun Datta, Principal of the school said besides Manipur, students from Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland are studying here.
While the neighboring states like Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland give Rs 35,000 to each of their students as yearly scholarships, Manipur Government provides a maximum amount of Rs 9000 and minimum Rs 2000 to its students.
Union MoS for Defence MM Pallam Raju, chairman of the Board of Governors of Sainik Schools Society, who visited to this school on Thursday said that he would urged Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi to ensure sufficient fund should be released to this school.
Besides visiting the academic blocks of the school, Pallam also laid foundation stone of the school's junior wing dormitory block.
Col RS Nehra , Inspecting Officer of Sainik schools society said these shcools' main objectives are to make the students prepared in all spheres for entry into the nations leading defence training institutes to the join the defence forces.
Since its establishment in 1971 Imphal Sainik school has so far become officers in the defence forces after clearing NDA, OTA and IMA examinations, the principal said.
He also briefed about the school's developmental aspects and other achievements to the Union Minister.