Sainik School Imphal comes alive with Golden Jubilee celebration
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, October 07 2021: Chief Minister N Biren Singh today graced the golden jubilee celebration of Sainik School, Imphal as the chief guest.

Sainik School, Imphal was founded on October 7, 1971 and like all other Sainik Schools, comes under the Ministry of Defence.

Education Minister S Rajen Singh, Sainik Schools Society's honorary secretary Satish Singh, Lt Gen (retd) Dr Konsam Himalay, Lt Gen (retd) LN Singh, many other serving and retired Army and paramilitary officers, high ranking officials of the Government and other public figures also attended the function as invitees.

Speaking at the function, Chief Minister N Biren Singh stated that he feels proud to be a Manipuri as many from the State have excelled in different fields and came out with flying colours in different competitive examinations.

Stating that Manipur has the highest ratio of Defence Officers to population in the country, the Chief Minister said that he was so pleased to learn that 15 cadets of the Sainik School, Imphal had cracked the NDA examination recently.

Sainik School Imphal comes alive with Golden Jubilee celebration

Apart from it, six candidates from the State had cleared the recently declared Civil Services Examination, 2020 conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, he said and added that the State Government's efforts through schemes like Chief Minister's Scholarship Scheme for Civil Services Aspirants have started paying dividends.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government would continue providing necessary funds for continuous maintenance of the school, apart from pressing the Central Government to upgrade school infrastructure with modern facilities so as to enhance its excellence to compete with other schools.

On his arrival at the school campus, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a Girl's Hostel to be constructed under the aegis of the State Education Department besides inaugurating a washroom complex for girls.

Expressing satisfaction on the inclusion of girl cadets from the current session, he assured to provide additional funds if required for the completion of the Girls' Hostel, for which the foundation stone was laid today.

He maintained that the State has been putting in best possible efforts to enhance human resources by taking up various initiatives like Chief Minister's Scholarship for Civil Services, upgradation of Dhanamanjuri College to a University and construction of Medical College in Churachandpur among others.

All these developments could be possible because of the restoration of peace in the State, he added.

The CM also unveiled a coffee table book of the school christened "Odyssey-50 Years' Journey", said the Principal of Sainik School Imphal, Gp Captain Ranjeesh Kumar in a statement.

Drama on cadets' life in the school, martial arts show and other entertainment programmes enthralled all the present and the same were broadcast live through the school's website, the statement added.

Responding to a query regarding the re-opening of schools on the sidelines of the programme, the Chief Minister told media persons that schools will be opened as soon as daily Covid positivity drops to around 2 to 3 percent.

The situation is improving gradually since the past few weeks and the positivity rate has declined to 5 to 6 percent on average, he said while adding that the State Government is prepared to take up necessary steps for reopening of schools as soon as average daily positivity rate falls within 2 to 3 percent.

On being asked about ex-gratia to Covid victims' kin, the CM noted that the Centre had approved Rs 50,000 compensation to the next of kin of those who died due to Covid and the State Government will surely comply with it and reach out to the victims' kins.