Morung Express News
Punglwa (Peren) | May 12
Union Minister of Defence, AK Antony, who inaugurated the Sainik School at Punglwa as chief guest today, assured the people of the state that both the Government of India and NSCN-IM will be able to settle all issues that are pending before them.
“I hope that Nagaland will be one of the most peaceful and happiest states”, Anthony told the gathering, while asserting that talks are continuing between the two parties.
The Minister said there has been a remarkable change in situation of the Naga society. Stating that he had witnessed the Nagaland situation in the late 80s, when the situation was so tense, ‘no one was safe to travel by road.’ However, now people are ‘more relax and more at peace.’ “I hope that this peace should be a permanent peace”, the Minister said, without elaborating further on the nitty-gritty of the talks.
Anthony also further said that the Ministry has approved for setting up of Sainik schools at Mizoram, Sikkim and all other states of the country. “Peaceful and serene environment at Punglwa will motivate teachers and students for all-round development”, the Minister added. State Governor K Sankaranrayanan, underscored good education as the valuable gift that the Naga can give to themselves, for which, he said, the state needs educational institutions of excellence.
Addressing the inaugural function of the Sainik School at Punglwa as guest of honour, the Governor expressed confidence that with the support of the Ministry of Defence and the efforts of the principal and teachers, the school will develop into a model of excellence.
Sankaranarayanan also went on to add that the knowledge of economy, education and skills play a major role, and said that to benefit from the changing pattern of the economy, one has to formulate strategies based on his strength and weakness.
“The traditional Naga society has always valued discipline in the village life. The Sainik School will impart education with a disciplined approach to life. It will equip the young generation with the skills essential for success in an increasingly integrated and competitive world”, the Governor added.
In his welcome note Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio beseeched the Defence Ministry for more facilities in order to bring it at par with the standards of the older and the more well-established Sainik schools. “And unless the government of India once again provide us with the required financial assistance, the growth of the school itself may suffer setbacks”, Rio said while recalling the past when hundreds of Naga boys from Nagaland studied in various Sainik schools across the country.
He said that earlier Naga boys were spread in Bhubaneshwar in Orissa, Ghorakhal in Uttarkhand, Goalpara in Assam, Korukpnda in Andhra Pradesh, Kunjpura in Haryana, Purulia in West Bengal and Tiliya Dam in Jarkhand.
However, following a shift in the policy from around the early 70’s, the intake of Naga boys was restricted to Sainik School, Imphal and that too, at a much reduced scale of about 17 students per year till about the late 70’s and thereafter to a trickle of just 6-7 students per year.
“This invariably gave rise to a situation wherein many Naga boys desirous of joining Sainik Schools have to forego the opportunity. This situation continues to be the same till today. However, now the Sainik School Punglwa has been set here in Nagaland, with an impressive enrolment of 150 students of classes VI and VII for the first academic session 2007-08”, Rio said.
Rio was also confident that this newly born Sainik School, the 21st and the youngest in its series will not suffer from neglect or for want of fund but will receive adequate attention that of due a child of tender age.
Union Minister of State for Defence and the Chairman of the Sainik School Society, M M Palam Raju, who also spoke on the occasion, said that Sainik School Punglwa was established after a gap of 35 years, and the ministry is contemplating to set up another two schools at Chhattisgarh and Karnataka. He said that Sainik School is the largest contributor of students to military academy and NDA.
Expressing optimism that the school will continue to provide quality product for all round development, the Minister disclosed the gathering that the Ministry has taken up several improved and reform measures like enhance of budgetary allocation for Sainik School, allocation of Rs 10,000 subsidy per year per student, support of IT and other infrastructural developments.
The Minister also assured the State that the Ministry will see to smooth growth of the new school and make it as an institute of repute.
Initial project cost framed by the state government was to the tune of over Rs 69 crores, with an aim to provide school with best and the latest amenities. However, at the instance of Ministry of DONER, this estimate was revised several times and finally trimmed down to Rs 14.07 crores. Rio also added that many works has to be done in order to be able accommodate the full complement of 550 to 600 boys up to the level of 12th standard.
Chief Secretary, Lalhuma chaired the function, while vote of thanks was delivered by Minister for Education, Imkong Imchen. Other highlights of the programme included traditional dances, ceremonial parade by students and brief reports of the School by Principal Col. BS Rathore.
.jpg)
