Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and GOC Spear Corps Lt Gen Abhijit S Pendharkar and others during a Joint Mega Ex-Servicemen Rally held at Rangapahar Military Station, Dimapur on February 12.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 12
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today announced that the State Government will provide “100% scholarships” for students of Nagaland studying at Sainik School Punglwa (SSP).
Addressing a Joint Mega Ex-Servicemen Rally held at Bhagat Stadium, Rangapahar Military Station, Dimapur, on Wednesday, he made the announcement while expressing concern that the quota reserved for Nagaland in SSP has not been fully utilised in recent years.
Since 2022-23, enrolment of students from Nagaland at the school has declined, even though 67% of the total 600 intake is reserved for students from the home state, he highlighted.
CM Rio further shared that in 2023-24, there were 16 seat vacancies from Nagaland against the allotted quota, which increased to 38 seats in the 2024-25 academic year.
“These seats are going to other states and outsiders,” he added.
Accordingly, to encourage more enrolment, he declared, “We are going to make a hundred percent scholarship for the students who are going to Sainik School in our state.”
Without elaborating, CM Rio informed that the department will create awareness to fully utilise the State’s quota and called upon ex-servicemen and public leaders to undertake similar initiatives.
Sharing insights on how three members of his family attended Sainik School, Rio maintained that the school experience—its discipline, hard work, exposure, friendships, and cultural exchanges with students from other states—helped broaden their vision beyond their immediate surroundings and pushed them beyond their comfort zones.
“By the grace of God and with the guidance and blessings of my father, I am who I am today, largely because of the experiences I had at Sainik School,” he stated.
Sharing his special affinity with Sainik Schools as well as SSP, he recalled leading the Ex-Sainik School Students' Association in advocating for a Sainik School in Nagaland and it was approved when late George Fernandes was the Defence Minister.
Many association members have gone on to serve in the armed forces, retired as chief secretaries, held senior administrative positions, and contributed significantly as engineers, doctors, and public servants to the development of Nagaland, he added.
“For politicians, fortunately, there is no retirement age, and I am still serving. However, I am conscious of my age but remain committed to serving our people,” he remarked.
To this end, he called for making “our school” a centre of excellence and assured gathering that the State Government would extend all possible support and assistance wherever required.
Meanwhile, stating that he was privileged to be the son of a soldier who served in British India from the late 1930s to 1947, Rio expressed his gratitude to the ex-servicemen and Veer Naris for their sacrifices and selfless service of not only safeguarding the nation but also inspired future generations.
The State Government remains committed to their welfare, he added, including financial aid, health insurance, and pension benefits.
As a token of respect, the Chief Minister also donated Rs 5 lakh to the Spear Corps Welfare Fund.
He stressed that special provisions have been made for the education of their children, particularly through scholarships and reserved seats in professional courses and urged the veterans to take full advantage such opportunities.
Rio also commended the Armed Forces and Assam Rifles for conducting free recruitment coaching for Naga youth, and urged young people to consider a career in the Armed Forces, terming it is as in one of the highest forms of patriotism.
Lieutenant General Abhijit S Pendharkar, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Spear Corps, who was the other chief guest alongside Rio, also acknowledged the sacrifices and contributions of the ex-servicemen and their families and the continued role they play in society even after retirement.
As per the State DIPR, he reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to supporting their welfare and encouraged them to take advantage of the various assistance programmes.
He also highlighted the importance of SSP Nagaland and urged the ex-servicemen to enrol their children, underscoring the scholarships available for students.
The rally was organised by Headquarters Spear Corps for veterans of the Armed Forces and Assam Rifles from Nagaland and the Karbi Anglong district of Assam. It aimed to honour ex-servicemen, Veer Naris, widows, and their families while addressing their welfare needs.
In a statement, the PRO & Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence informed that over 1,300 ex-servicemen, including 16 Veer Naris, 4 Veer Matas, and 33 war veterans from the 1962 Indo-China War, the 1971 Indo-Pak War, and the 1999 Kargil War, participated in the event.
Senior officials from the Armed Forces, the State Government, and Ex-Servicemen Associations were present.
During the event, the Veer Naris, war veterans, and widows were honoured by the dignitaries.
Medical services, including ENT, orthopaedic, eye, and dental care, were provided, along with free medicines and assistive devices. Information kiosks and grievance counters offered details on welfare schemes, the PRO stated.
Commercial facilities, including Canteen Services, Sajni (a welfare initiative), and vehicle sales etc, provided a single-point facility to meet the requirements of attendees, it added.
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