NCC helps youth in imbibing pluralistic ethos: Governor

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31

Governor NN Vohra said today that the National Cadet Corps (NCC) has played a significant role over the years in exposing youth from various parts of the country to its deep-rooted socio-cultural traditions and ethical values.

He hoped that in the coming time it would become possible for such opportunities to be enlarged and made available to the students so as to expose them to linguistic, religious and cultural diversity of our country. This will give them an opportunity to appreciate the country’s strength, he added.

The Governor noted that such opportunities were being provided to younger schoolchildren in J&K who were being enabled by the Northern Army Command, under the Sadbhavana Programme, to visit various parts of the state and country. This has proved to be very effective in widening their horizons and given new perceptions and vision to youth.

The Governor was speaking at the Special National Integration Camp (SNIC) organised by J&K NCC Directorate at JAKLI Regimental Centre here today.

As many as 250 cadets from various parts of the country and 150 cadets from J&K are participating in the camp being held from May 25 to June 5.

On his arrival at the camp venue, the Governor was presented with a guard of honour by the cadets and introduced to the officers of the J&K NCC Directorate. First Lady Usha Vohra accompanied the Governor on the occasion.

Speaking about the SNIC, the Governor observed that a very important aspect of such camps was that they enabled cadets from different states to see other parts of the country, meet and interact with people of different religions, languages, customs and lifestyles and thus imbibe the glorious pluralistic ethos of India.

He added that unity in diversity is the real strength of our country, which needs to be preserved, promoted, enlarged and strengthened.

The Governor observed that, as far as he recalled, he had had the wonderful opportunity of participating in all the SNI camps which had been organised in J&K in the last years, ever since he came to the state.

He complimented the NCC Directorate for state’s cadets bringing laurels by winning prizes in various events organised at Republic Day NCC Camp. He also recalled the recent scaling of the Mount Everest by an expedition, which included four NCC girl cadets from Ladakh. The Governor invited these young NCC Everesters to visit Raj Bhavan.

The Governor also announced the institution of the Governor’s Rolling Trophy to be awarded to the winners of the inter-group competitions organised by NCC Directorate.

In his welcome address, Major General Sudhir S Jakhar, Additional Director General, National Cadet Corps, Jammu and Kashmir Directorate, gave a resume of the aims and objectives of the camp.

Later, the Governor and the First Lady visited the stalls exhibiting the training activities of the cadets through paintings, photographs and models.

On the occasion, the cadets presented a captivating cultural programme based on the theme of the composite cultural heritage of the country.