Reach out actions by AR proves successful, says IGAR (N)
A total of 132 students from Nagaland appeared in the recently concluded entrance exam to Sainik School Punglwa (SSP) on January 6.
This is a quantum rise of over 300% compared to last year when only 43 students from the state appeared, informed a release from PRO HQ IGAR (N).
Out of the total 132, the Assam Rifles identified, coached and trained 123 students, it maintained.
The SSP opened in May 2007 as the 22nd Sainik School in the country with the aim “to remove regional and urban-rural imbalance in the officer cadre of the Defence services and also develop attributes of body, mind and character to enable young boys of Nagaland to become good and useful citizens of tomorrow.”
However, the IGAR (N) release maintained that while the school offers best all-round curriculum, admissions from Nagaland were declining in recent years, enabling other States to send more students with every passing year.
Lack of awareness cum coaching facilities for the entrance exams in Nagaland and restrictive fee structure were seen as main deterrents, it said.
To reverse the trend and address the matter, the SSP authorities sought assistance from the Inspectorate General Assam Rifles North (IGAR-N), it added.
Consequently, the AR started scouting for potential students in early Sept 2018 and after identifying over 150 students from Nagaland, various battalions of IGAR (N) began “meticulously coaching them and preparing them” for the entrance exam under various Civic Action Projects.
It further plans to financially sponsor some of the economically weaker students who will finally be admitted to the School, the release informed.
The Sainik Schools first began its academic session in June 1961 at Satara (Maharashtra) as grooming ground for defence services, among other objectives. Since then, such schools have been instituted in all India, with a few states even having more than one.
An exclusive boys’ club for many years, Sainik School Lucknow created history last year by admitting 17 girl students in Class 9. The same goes for Sainik School Chhingchhip, Mizoram where 6 girls were admitted in class VI.
It is “is very likely” that girls and boys will study together at SSP in near future, the IGAR release informed.
Many students from Nagaland have had studied in Sainik School Imphal (SSI), which was established in October 1971.
Approximately, 32 alumni of the SSI from Nagaland have cleared the Nagaland Public Service Commission, the release said.
The school has also contributed more than 200 Officers in the different wings of the Defence Forces, it added.
Overall, the release estimated that out of approximate 55,000 officers in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, close to 18-20% are from various Sainik Schools in the country.
(MExN)
