IMPHAL, September 10: The presentation of the Governor’s Award and distribution of the Rajkumari Sanatombi Devi Award, 2013 was held today at the Asha Jina Complex, North AOC organized by the management committee of Rajkumari Santombi Devi Vidyalaya Haotal (Pangei).
HSLC, 2013 topper Miranda Monbijiam of Nirmalabas School, daughter of M Iboyaima Singh from Thangmeiband Lairenhanjaba Leikai received the Governor’s Award, 2013 which included a cash prize of Rs 15000 along with a certificate of excellence in academics.
Nine other individuals were selected for the Rajkumari Sanatombi Devi Award, 2013 in appreciation of their outstanding performance in various fields including sports, traffic control (police).
The award continued cash price of Rs 10,000 and a certificate of excellence.
The nine RK Sanatombi Devi Award, 2013 recipients are Salam Baruni Singh, Assistant teacher at 13 Assam Rifle High School, Somrai, Ukhrul District and Nurjahan Begum, Head of Makhapat government school, Naharup (teacher category); Wanglembam Thoibi Devi of Kongba Uchekon (fencing); Soram Rani Devi of Ithai Wapokpi Kumbi (arm wrestling); Thoudam Kalpana Devi of Kakwa Makha Naorem Leikai (judo); Potshangbam Bidyarani Devi of Bishnupur Bazar, Ward no. nine, Bishnupur District (wrestling); Tongbram Bidyalaxmi Devi of Singjamei Waikhom Leikai (cycling); Leimram Joypriya Chanu of Khurai Heigrumakhong (taekwondo) in the sports category and Hudrom Rasheshori Devi of Yumnam Huidrom Village, Imphal East traffic police (WPC No. 0715017).
Addressing the function, Dr Ashwani Kumar, Governor of Manipur and Nagaland lauded Rk Santombi Vidyalaya for providing excellent service to the society in education since the early 1980’s.
“Two days ago, on September 8, the world celebrated the International Literacy Day. An interesting article in a newspaper, made a comparison of the literacy rates prevailing in various parts of the world.” While expressing his happiness over the report which said that Manipur has made tremendous progress in the last few years, he said, “However, in comparison to many countries and states, we are still far behind.”
“As per the comparative statistics report, the world Literacy rate in 2011 was 84.1 % whereas, the literacy rate of Manipur was 79.85% the two neighboring states Tripura and Mizoram have high literacy rates of 94.65% and 91.58% respectively”, he said.
He continued that similarly, the male literacy rate in the world was 88.6%, whereas, the male literacy in Manipur was 86.49%. The female literacy rate in the world was 79.9%, whereas, in Manipur it was 73.17%. Therefore, there is need to work much harder under the `Saakshar Bharat` program to ensure that no one remains illiterate in the state.
The plans should be implemented in the right earnest to make Manipur 100% literate in the next few years, the Governor said.
“The best way of changing people and transforming society is through education. However, there are some individuals and groups who believe in bringing change through use of force, violence, bullets and guns”, he said and continued that any changes brought through these means will not be lasting.
He elaborated that history is testimony to the fact and our scriptures also say that “those who live by the sword, die by the sword.”
Rishang Keishing, MP Rajya Sabha said that RK Sanatombi Devi Vidyalaya has done an immense work for building up the students of the state.
Any work for the development of the society should be taken considering the future, he said.