Antony to inaugurate Sainik School in Nagaland

New Delhi, May 11 (UNI) Seeking to provide better educational facilities in the far flung areas of the country's north-east, a Sainik School is being set up at Punglwa in district Peren, near Dimapur in Nagaland.

The institution -- the first Sainik School in Nagaland and third in the entire North East -- will be inaugurated tomorrow by Defence Minister AK Antony. Nagaland Governor K Sankaranarayanan will be the Guest of Honour with Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Chairman of the Sainik School Society -- and Minister of State for Defence -- MM Pallam Raju also attending the ceremony, an official spokesperson said here today.

Spread over an area of 300 acres, the school is located in the scenic foothills of Pauna range, about 47 kms from Dimapur. This -- the 21st Sainik School in the country -- is expected to go a long way in meeting the aspirations of the mostly tribal people and integrating the remote region with the rest of the country.

Established under the aegis of the Sainik Schools Society, the school has been set up due to the hard work and persistent initiative of Chief Minister Rio, himself a Sainik School alumnus and who laid the foundation stone on February 16, 2004.

The school building has been constructed by the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC). The school has received over Rs 14 crore funding from the Ministry for Development of the North-Eastern Region (DONER) and Rs 2 crore grant-in-aid from the state government for infrastructure.

The school has a well-equipped computer lab and LCD projector auditorium while plans are afoot to set up a modern swimming pool, horse-riding club and shooting range.

The residential school -- only for boys -- will be affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). It will impart studies through the English medium and provide only Science stream education to senior secondary students.

The aim of the school is to prepare boys for entry to the National Defence Academy. It will also aim to bring quality public school education within the reach of the common man, said the spokesperson.

Col BS Rathore will be the first Principal of this school.

UNI