Center Rejects Report Alleging BJP, RSS Were Awarded New Sainik Schools

On Wednesday, the ministry of defense refuted claims claiming that institutions were assigned to the new Sainik Schools according to their political or ideological ties.
In a study, the online media outlet ‘The Reporters’ Collective’ said that 62 percent of the newly established Sainik Schools were given to Sangh Parivar members and BJP and its allies politicians.

Certain news sections have carried articles suggesting that Sainik Schools are being assigned to organizations according to their political or ideological affinities. In a statement, the ministry of defense said that “such insinuations are unfounded.”

It said that a stringent selection procedure was used to determine which organizations would oversee the new Sainik Schools.

“The plan for the new Sainik Schools is well designed. Strong incentives are in place to provide financial assistance to worthy students, and a stringent selection procedure is in place to assure ongoing adherence to the goals, according to the ministry.

“The political or ideological affiliation or otherwise of the applicant institution does not influence the selection process,” added the statement.

“Attempts to politicise or distort the objectives and implementation of the scheme by casting aspersions on it, are unwarranted and misleading,” the ministry said.

In the first phase, the government has started a nationwide initiative to establish 100 new Sainik Schools in collaboration with non-governmental organizations, state governments, and the commercial education sector.

More than 500 applications were submitted, according to the ministry, and they were examined.

Thus far, 45 schools have received permission. This covers both planned and current schools,” the statement said.

“These schools have been granted conditional approval. Permission to remain in effect is contingent upon the school inspection committee’s yearly evaluation. As a result, the plan calls for continuing to adhere to meeting the specified requirements,” it said.

The Union Cabinet gave its approval in October 2021 for 100 public and private schools to become affiliated with the Ministry of Defence’s Sainik School Society.

According to the ministry, each application was subjected to a rigorous vetting procedure.

It explained the procedure by stating that principals of neighboring Sainik Schools and Navodaya Vidyalayas, as well as the appropriate district magistrate in the chairman role, formed a committee to evaluate schools.

“Physical inspection of the applicant school and verification of the credentials is done as per laid down criteria,” added the statement.