Assam’s Kaliabor Lok Sabha MP and a member of the standing committee on defence, Gaurav Gogoi has dashed off a letter to union defence minister Rajnath Singh regarding delay in setting up of Assam’s 2nd Sainik school at Golaghat.
In Assam, there is only one Sainik school in Assam, which is situated at Goalpara.
A TOI report quoted the Lok Sabha MP from Assam as writing in his letter to Rajnath Singh: “I am writing to you regarding the delay in the establishment of a Sainik school in Golaghat district of Assam.”
In his letter, Gogoi stated that two years have been delayed in the process of setting up the Sainik school at Golaghat. The MP further stated that during this period, he has also drew the attention of the state chief minister regarding the matter.
“However, I am left with no choice but to write to you to ensure the establishment of the Sainik School in Golaghat district,” Gogoi added in his letter.
The Kaliabor Lok Sabha MP also mentioned in his letter that in a reply given in the Lok Sabha, the central government on Wednesday stated that the Golaghat Sainik school was not functional.
The report further quoted Gogoi as writing in his letter: “Despite receiving ‘In-Principle Approval’ from the ministry of defence in March of 2016, the state government has not taken the steps required on its part as per the funding pattern to provide infrastructure in the form of land, educationbal and residential buildings, sports fields, etc.”
The Congress MP in his letter also mentioned that if fund is an issue for the state government, he is willing to “donate” his entire MPLADS funds for the project.
Stating that there are many states like Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh where there are two or more Sainik schools, Gogoi in his letter said setting up of a second Sainik school in Assam is a long-standing demand as there is only one Sainik school in the state.
In his letter, Gogoi further stated: “In the interest of the people of Assam, it is my humble request to you to take up the matter with the State Government of Assam.”
He also urged the defence minister that this may be taken as a national project and that the project may be supported by the central government with adequate funds.