TSWREIS school on fast-track

Karimnagar: Even as the Central government’s proposed Sainik School in Warangal is yet to get off the blocks, the State has come up with its own; however, at a different location – Rukmapur in Karimnagar district – and put it on the fast track so that it gets underway from the upcoming academic year. The institution coming up on the lines of Ministry of Defence (MoD)’s Sainik Schools is to work as a long-term coaching centre for those children aspiring to join the armed forces.

The proposal to set up a Sainik School in Karimnagar dates back to 2007. Even the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had in principle agreed to its establishment, provided the State government agrees to bear the expenditure of infrastructure and equipment, including salaries of the staff. But the proposal remained on paper.

The demand for establishing a Sainik School in Telangana came to fore again after the State bifurcation. Though the Ministry of Defence had expressed its readiness to establish a Sainik School in Warangal and written a letter to the State government, the proposal didn’t move forward for the last couple of years.

Against this backdrop, the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TSWREIS) that runs 268 residential schools and well known for imparting quality education has decided to convert its existing social welfare school at Rukmapur, 12 kms north of district headquarters Karimnagar, on the lines of MoD’s Sainik schools.

With the 2018-19 academic year is not far away, the TSWREIS has already sent a team of officials to Korukonda Sainik School in Vizianagaram to acquire the knowhow. The TSWREIS Secretary RS Praveen Kumar himself visited the school and inspected the facilities in Rukmapur a couple of days ago and took note of requirements. The newly constructed building sprawled in about 26 acres with plenty of government land available adjacent to it is virtually a readymade for the Sainik School.

As of now the plan is to admit 80 students each in Class V and Intermediate first year. The curriculum of the course will be prepared by retired personnel of Indian Army, Air Force and Navy. Speaking to The Hans India, Praveen Kumar said: “The Sainik School funded by Scheduled Caste Development Department (SCDD) will work as a long-term coaching centre beginning with Class V.” He said that aim is to help the students of marginalised sections to get into the armed forces and reach top posts.