Financial hardship comes as a stumbling block for meritorious tribal and caste students, those who are aspiring for Sainik School. 

Stats reveal that in 2009-10 only 5 tribal students were enrolled in the Sainik School, Bubaneswar, while entire intake in Class VI was 92.

Similarly only 13 Scheduled Caste students received admission in the Sainik School, though there is 15 per cent of reservation in seats.

Principal reason is both tribal and caste students are not able to go for one of the top most schools due to poverty, said a senior faculty in the school.

Sainik School has 15 per cent reservation for SC and 7.5 per cent for ST students.

So much more number of students in these categories can be accommodated, said he.

Sainik School charges Rs.68,000 per annum towards fee.

Innovative initiative has been taken by Ashok Kumar Tripathy, Principal Secretary of the Department of ST & SC Development to bear the entire tuition fees of those students, who will get admitted in Sainik School. 

While the Right to Education Act once implemented, it will pave the way for such reimbursements by the Government, Mr.Tripathy has taken steps ahead of time, said an official.

So State Government will encourage the ST/SC students to take admission in Sainik School, said a senior official.

Students of those categories will be given tool kits and baggage so that they should not feel inferior to the other affluent students, said he.

A provision is made to bear the to and fro journey cost of the students from Sainik School to their native places during holidays also.

Mr.Tripathy, who has long stint in School & Mass Education and Higher Education departments has been promoting tribals for better education and schooling, admitted Professor A B Ota, Director Tribal Research Institute.