The Government is yet to open Sainik schools in all the States of the country despite taking a decision to this effect way back in 1961 and no new school was established after 1962. The aim of opening such schools was to prepare students for entry into the elite National Defence Academy (NDA) — the cradle of officers of Indian Armed Forces.
At present, 21 States have 25 Sainik and Rashtriya Military Schools and 15 proposals from various States are at various stages of screening with the Central Government. In an effort to bridge the gap persisting for the last five decades, the Defence Ministry has given in principle go-ahead to ten projects including Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh where no sainik schools exist.
Giving these details in Parliament last week, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the scheme to establish Sainik schools in every State was introduced in 1961 with the primary aim of preparing boys academically, physically and mentally for entry into the NDA.
Moreover, the main objectives of the scheme are to remove regional imbalance in the officer cadre of Defence services and bring public school education within the reach of the common man. However, no Rashtriya Military School was opened since 1962, Parrikar admitted.
Incidentally, the present Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag and IAF chief Arup Raha are products of Sainik Schools besides former Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor. This proves the point that the Sainik schools are providing top quality education to students many of whom have gone on to shine in civil services besides armed forces and politics. Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is one case in point and who also happens to be Deepak Kapoor’s classmate in Sainik School, Kunjpura, Haryana.
listing the criteria for establishing Sainik schools, Parrikar, meanwhile, informed the lok Sabha that the concerned State Government has to forward such a proposal and agree to provide land along with funds for the creation and maintenance of basic infrastructure besides scholarships for the cadets belonging to the State.
Stating that Sainik and Rashtriya Military Schools are a joint venture between the State and Central Governments, he said the Central Government provides funds for salary to teaching staff, sports and annual major works programme.
The State-wise list of Sainik schools to receive Central funds include Andhra Pradesh (one), Assam (one), Bihar (two), Chattisgarh (one), Gujarat (one), Haryana (two), Himachal Pradesh (one), Jammu & Kashmir (one), Jharkhand (one), Karnataka (one), Kerala (one), Madhya Pradesh (one), Maharashtra (one), Manipur (one), Nagaland (one), Odisha (one), Punjab (one), Rajasthan (one), Tamil Nadu, Uttrakhand and West Bengal one each.
Eager to have more Sainik schools, some States like Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttrakhand and Rajasthan have submitted their proposals and the Defence Ministry is vetting them as per the laid down guidelines. Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram are first time applicants and the Centre has given the clearance, the Minister said.
Interestingly, UP, which has two Sainik schools, is the front-runner with three proposals for opening Sainik Schools in Mainpuri, Jhansi and Amethi. Rajasthan comes at second number with two proposals for establishing such institutions at Alwar and Jhunjhunu and the centre has given the nod for all the projects in the two States.