NEW DELHI: Girls might be allowed to study in Sainik Schools as the government is considering a proposal to allow this along with girl cadets at the National Defence Academy.
Union minister Subhash Ramrao Bhamre on Friday said that there was a proposal on whether to give admission to girl students at Sainik schools and girl cadets at the NDA and the matter is under the consideration of the ministry.
The minister said this in Lok Sabha on Friday adding that there were 26 Sainik schools in the country and proposals are pending for setting up 21 more such schools.
Meanwhile, in a written reply, Defence minister Arun Jaitley said, “There are 26 Sainik schools spread across 22 states and the remaining states have been requested to indicate their requirements for such schools. At present, 21 proposals for establishing Sainik schools from various states and union territories are pending,” he said adding that an allocation of Rs 80 crore has been made from the Budget for these schools in 2017-18.
Jaitley said that Sainik schools and the Rashtriya Military schools have proven their utility by providing a large number of cadets joining the NDA.
In 2016, as many as 159 or 29.33 per cent cadets sent to the NDA where from Sainik schools. During this period, 31 cadets or 5.71 per cent were from Rashtriya Military schools.
The objectives behind opening Sainik schools include removing regional imbalance in the officer cadre of the defence services.
To another question, Jaitely said no new regiment has been raised since Independence, while the sub units raised were as per the existing nomenclature and numerical seniority of the units in that regiment.
In the reply government also agreed that as per government policy on the subject, all citizens irrespective of their class, creed, region or religion are eligible for enrolment in the Indian Army.