Col Y R Puri, the founder-principal of Sainik School-Satara, the first Sainik School to be opened in the country called the allocation a boon. “In my time, all the boys who hailed from the poor families were entitled to exemption of school fees, thanks to grants from the State Government. The State gave scholarships according to the income of the parents,” said Puri, adding, gradually the grants had stopped, so did the enrollment of poor students resulting in the Army losing out on a huge section of potential Army officers. “And now they complain about the shortage faced by the Army,” said Puri.

“Education does not just mean classrooms, but also an overall development of the personality befitting a future entrant into the forces. Training in sports, riding, MCC and organising camps all require money, which eventually ran out and the activities suffered,” said Puri.

Puri’s wife, fondly referred to as Aunty Puri who continues to remain her former students’ favourite, highlighted the “equality complex” that was enforced when the Sainik Schools were in their prime. “No child of a labourer or a farmer was excluded from a Sainik school education due to lack of money. Hopefully with these funds the same situation will be back,” she said. “With rising stress levels in the army and the two crore grant, a counsellor is required too.”