KORUKONDA (VIZIANAGARAM): The Sainik Schoolgirl cadets for the first time since its inception in 1962. After the Sainik School at Chhingchhip in Mizoram started the induction of girls on a pilot basis three years ago, the initiative has been now extended to all 33 Sainik Schools across the country. 

As part of its ‘welcome’ to the first batch of girl cadets, the school is allocating a separate hostel block and recruiting a female matron, physical training (PT) instructor, nursing assistant and an ‘ayah’. To start with, 10 seats would be allocated to girl students out of a total intake of 80 students in class VI. The admission process is already on. 

Korukonda Sainik School principal Colonel Arun Kulkarni welcomed the move. “Our major objective is to prepare the cadets to become future officers. This initiative would consequently enable the girls to aspire for a career in the armed forces. This is the best step we could have taken to open more avenues for girls in defence services. All basic amenities and infrastructure such as an independent hostel and adequate female staff would be provided to girls on the campus. We are also planning to create a separate sick bay for girl cadets in the future,” Col Kulkarni told STOI. 

Speaking about the typical day of a cadet on campus, he said the day starts at 6 am with physical training. “Our aim is to produce confident students and future leaders who can face any situation. Besides academic excellence, the students will participate in various co-curricular and extra-curricular activities to prepare them for life’s challenges,” he explained.