Army-Guided Border Student Earns Spot in Sainik School

Quick Summary

• The Indian Army’s mentorship programme helped 12-year-old Milli Yabi from Sarli village in Arunachal Pradesh secure admission to Sainik School Siang, making her the first student from her remote region to achieve this milestone.
• Sarli village, located in Kurung Kumey district and 350 km northwest of Itanagar, has a literacy rate of 56.18% and limited educational resources.
• The programme was initiated by the Army’s 4 Corps in September 2024 for children from Classes 5 and 8, providing structured academic support including:

– 88 classes, 18 mock tests, and extensive counselling over seven months.
– an Integration and Motivational Tour where students met governor K.T. Parnaik and visited key institutions.
– Assistance with documentation and escorting students to Itanagar for entrance exams in April 2025.

• Out of the participating group of 33 students, 32 qualified at the national level, with ongoing counselling expected to place four to six additional candidates into Sainik Schools soon.
• Milli was highlighted as a symbol of resilience by the Defense Ministry, which also commended her success as a reflection of how mentorship can enable even remote communities to nurture future leaders.

[Image Source: PTI News/X]

Indian opinion Analysis
The admission of Milli Yabi into Sainik School exemplifies the transformative impact educational initiatives can have on India’s remotest regions like Sarli village, which face systemic resource deficits despite growing aspirations among youth. By focusing on structured academic support as well as motivational programmes aimed at exposure beyond local boundaries, the Army’s mentorship actively bridged gaps between rural challenges and national-level opportunities.

this achievement not only represents personal triumph but resonates with broader implications on improving access equity within India’s education system-especially for border or tribal areas frequently enough marginalized due to geographic isolation or infrastructural limitations.The initiative showcases scalable potential for empowering underserved populations across states through targeted interventions involving collaboration between governmental agencies (such as Defence entities) alongside community engagement strategies tailored toward regional requirements.

Read more: Army mentored schoolgirl makes it to Sainik School