SHILLONG, Dec 28 - The Assam Rifles Public School (ARPS) here at Laitkor would be converted into a sports school � one of the few such schools around the country and first in the North-east.��
Assam Rifles, the oldest paramilitary force in the country and stationed in the Northeast, runs 42 ARPSs across the region. These schools provide education to children of its soldiers and also the local population.�
However, the school at Laitkor is located inside the headquarters of the Assam Rifles at Laitkor and would now be known as ARPS (sports,) Laitkor. Officially the sports school would be inaugurated by Minister of State Youth and Sports Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister on January 4. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is also likely to attend the inauguration.�
In the sports schools, 50 boys and 50 girl students selected by Sports Authority of India (SAI) would be coached and trained. The selected students would be trained in three sports disciplines - athletics, archery and fencing.�
Assam Rifles and SAI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for initially inducting 100 students with proven talent in athletics, archery and fencing. All expenditure on academics and training of the students will be sponsored by SAI under the Khelo India scheme of the Central Government. �
This development is quite an achievement for ARPS Laitkor as the school was on the verge of being shut down due to �bankruptcy,� because of alleged financial mismanagement.
