New Delhi:- Vice President Hamid Ansari today encouraged more youth to join the National Cadet Corps, stating that it facilitates growth of young boys and girls into “robust, resilient and responsible adults”, besides building their character.
Addressing over 2,000 cadets at the inauguration of the NCC Republic Day Camp here, the Vice President, an ex-cadet of the Corps, underlined the importance of NCC in giving the youth a direction and a sense of achievement in life.
“I would like to encourage more young people to join the NCC and get the benefit of an educational experience that facilitates character building and helps mould them into robust, resilient and responsible adults.
“I also hope that parents will encourage their children’s participation in NCC as the many healthy and meaningful activities will keep young people gainfully occupied and give them a sense of achievement,” he said.
The camp comprising 2,069 cadets, including 695 girls drawn from the 17 NCC Directorates covering all the states and Union Territories, will culminate into the Prime Minister’s Rally on January 28 at the camp site adjacent to Garrison Parade Ground in Delhi Cantonment.
The Vice President also emphasised the role of the NCC in grooming the youth into leaders of tomorrow.
“Its mission, since its inception in 1948, has been to complement the academic education of student cadets. And, a series of activities provide much room for character development, leadership training and building esprit de corps,” he said.
NCC sea cadets have been training in seamanship, sailing and scuba diving while the air cadets receive training in flying and aeromodelling, besides attending mountaineering courses and glider courses.
Through such activities, Ansari noted the “cadets learn values such as courage, discipline, confidence and respect for authority.”
The NCC has also planned an initiative to send its female cadets to conquer Mt Everest peak this year.
“…the NCC is playing an important role in shaping the character and moral fibre of our people, and ultimately the effectiveness and dynamism of the nation,” he added.
Earlier, a contingent of immaculately dressed cadets drawn from all three wings — Army, Navy and Air Force — presented a guard of honour to the Vice President on his arrival.
This was followed by two separate routines by an all-boy band contingent followed by an all-girl one, which left the crowd enthralled. .
PTI
