Chandigarh
To facilitate economically backward students from the state aspiring to get into the armed forces, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday decided that the government would bear the cost of poor students at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI), Mohali, for their Class XI and XII education.
The institute has tied up with a private school in Mohali for education of students who clear its entrance examination. At present, 40 such students are getting senior secondary school education at the institute, but they are required to pay their own school fee of Rs 45,000 a year.
To meet the additional expenses, Amarinder also asked the finance department to examine its proposal for additional funds of Rs 9.5 crore, in addition to the 8.5 crore, for making up the required corpus of Rs 18 crore.
Besides, he also directed the director general to formulate a proposal, in consultation with the secretary school education, to set up cadet training wings in select government schools.
Amarinder asked the finance department to sanction requisite funds to establish the wings at the selected private schools in Patiala, Mohali, Sangrur, Beas and Nabha to impart training to the students for joining NDA. Thereafter, technical education minister Charanjit Singh Channi suggested expanding the programme, wherein the institute will send trainers to the selected schools, including government schools.
Meanwhile, Amarinder also chaired the 3rd governing council meeting of the Centre for Training and Employment of Punjab Youth (C-Pyte), aimed at providing opportunities to the unemployed youth in the armed forces, central paramilitary forces and Punjab Police. He asked the C-Pyte director general to rationalize the existing camps and also explore the establishment of more permanent camps in other areas.
