Haryana to sign MoU with Defence Ministry to provide training to Sainik School Kunjpura

 by Haryananewswire (Balbir)

CHANDIGARH, JULY 24

The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today announced that the State Government will soon sign a Memorandum of Agreement with Union Defence Ministry on priority basis under which funds, facilities and training will be provided to Sainik School Kunjpura.

          Mr. Hooda was speaking as chief guest in the 52^nd Founder’s Day celebrations of Sainik School Kunjpura in Karnal.

            Mr. Hooda also announced to grant approval for setting up a New Hostel and Mess Block in the school complex at a revised estimated cost of Rs. 19.50 crore, releasing pending grant-in-aid for the year 2011-12 amounting to Rs. 3.95 crore and fixed annual recurring grant-in-aid of Rs. 1.5 crore for infrastructure development and its regular maintenance and reconstruction of lab complex at a cost of about Rs. 1.50 crore .

           Mr. Hooda said that today that is July 24 was a memorable day for the Sainik School Kunjpura as it was the same day when the school was incepted by the then Defence Minister Mr. V.K. Krishan Menon. He said that in a short span of 52 years, the school has carved a niche for itself and is better than the best amongst some of the century-old public school in the country.

          While exhorting the Kunjeans  to achieve big heights and get ready to serve their motherland, Mr. Hooda said,  Haryana is the third State in the country to have two sainik schools and the first State where a Defence University was being set up. Though the State has a geographical area of 1.37 per cent of the total area and two per cent of the total population of the country, every tenth soldier in the Defence Forces hails from Haryana, he added.

         Mr. Hooda said that the Sainik school has the distinction of sending maximum number of boys to the National Defence Academy (NDA) amongst all the Sainik Schools in the country and for this achievement the school had been awarded “Raksha Mantri Tropy” for seven times in a row, thus setting a record of its own kind. The achievement reflects the quality education and training being provided in the school, added Mr. Hooda.

          Congratulating the school for glorious achievements, Mr. Hooda said it had been rendering yeoman service to the nation since its inception on July 24, 1961, by grooming future defence officers. He said that more than 2500 cadets passed out from this school were rendering services in different sectors alongwith the defence sector. Mr. Hooda urged the Kunjeans to carry forward the rich legacy of the school and live upto the school’s motto ‘Ready to Accomplish’. Therefore, emulate the ex-kunjeans and become law abiding, dutiful and responsible citizens of the country.

          Recalling his old days, Mr. Hooda said that he himself had been the student of the school and “ I feel  delighted to see that the school has got a new facelift in the recent past as many new embellishment have come up in the school in the form of skating rink, memory lab, science park, tennis court, saikunj war memorial and new golden jubilee school gate”.

          Speaking on the occasion, Former Chief of Army Staff,  Gen. Deepak Kapoor  expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for making the school the ‘Pride of Haryana’  and said that it was a matter of pride that the school has the distinction of having alumni like Chief Minister Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Referring the Sainik School, Kunjpura as the premier institution of the State, Mr. Kapoor said that “it is the hard work and dedication of the Kunjeans that makes difference between mediocrity and excellence’.

          Principal of the Sainik School, Kunjpura Gp. Capt. L.N Sharma highlighted various achievement of the school and read out the annual report of the school for the year 2011-12. He said that the Kunjeans would get inspiration with the presence of the old boys association. He said that sports and welfare of defence personnel has been very close to the heart of Mr. Hooda.  Recently the Chief Minister has honoured the mountaineering contingent of Sainik School Kunjpura at Delhi and also announced to give a sum of Rs. 11 lakh for the promotion of adventure activities.

          On this occasion Mr. Hooda gave away certificates of excellence to 17 new cadet appointment and Gen. Deepak Kapoor gave away the Best House and Cock House Trophies. Member of Parliament Dr. Arvind Sharma gave away certificates and mementoes to the Academic Toppers.

Earlier. Mr. Hooda paid homage to the martyrs of the school by laying wreath at the Saikunj War Heroes Memorial. Mr. Hooda also paid floral tributes to Late Col E.J. Simeon, the founder Principal of the School. Mr. Hooda also inaugurated Smart Class Complex at Deepak Kapoor NDA Block, gifted by the old boys association.

Major General Sanjeev Verma, Chairman, LBA and Chief of Staff, Headquarter 2 Corps presented the vote of thanks.

Those who were present on the occasion included MLA Mrs. Sumita Singh, Zile Ram Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra Lt. Gen. Rtd. DDS Sandhu, Air Marshal Rtd. P.S Bhangu, Deputy  Commissioner, Karnal Mrs. Renu. S. Phulia, IG Karnal Range Balbir Singh, Superintendent of Police Mr. Shashank Anand, Chairman Zila Parishad Mr. Angrej Singh Dhumasi and number of ex-Kunjeans, parents of cadets and faculty members of the school.