IMPHAL, May 23: State Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam today inaugurated the much delayed Eklavya Model Residential School and separate hostels for ST boys and girls at Gamnon Sapermeina, today.
The construction of the school and the two hostels had started in 2001 with funding from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. The Ministry had provided Rs 2.5 crores for the construction of the school and the two hostels.
The newly inaugurated hostels have capacities of 180 students each.
In his key-note address, Lumingthang Haokip, Director of Tribal Hills and Affairs expressed that the amount of Rs 2.5 crores provided by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs was not enough for the completion of the construction owing to the ever rising prices of construction materials.
Clarifying on the delayed completion of the school, he said bandhs and blockades had greatly affected the construction of the school and the hostels.
He also said that the state Planning Department had also provided Rs 31.8 lakh.
Deputy Chief Minister Gakhangam said the site for the school and the hostels was donated by Minister IFCD, Ngamthang Haokip.
The Dy CM who also holds the Tribal Affairs portfolio said the construction for the school was undertaken by the Manipur Tribal Development Corporation with funding from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Elaborating further, he said that the whole funding for the construction of the school as well as for the running of the school including salaries for the teachers and staffs, hostel and other requirements of the students would be rendered by the Ministry.
The school is especially for the backward and downtrodden section of the society, said the Dy CM.
Elaborating on the intake capacity of the school which will be from Class VI and above, he said each class will have 60 students each and the school will only have Class VI for the current academic session and will increase each year till Class XII.
Regarding the process of admission of students and appointment of teachers for the school, the state Tribal Affairs will be furnishing a completion report to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’, he said before adding all such process of admission and appointment will start according to instructions from the Ministry.
The Centre’s policy aims to improve the condition of the downtrodden and backward classes of the society, he said.
The Dy Chief Minister further lauded the initiative of the Senapati District Students’ Association and the Kuki Students Organization, Sadar Hills for jointly organizing a festival in the district to unify the tribals of the valley and hills of the state.
Minister Ngamthang Haokip lauded the school and said it will provide free and quality education to the downtrodden people of all communities. He further appealed to all to support the school and further added that it is suitably located at a strategic point amidst several communities.