Hoshiarpur, April 26
From being active seven days a week to planning to assign new roles and responsibilities to the cadets of the Jalandhar group of the world’s largest uniformed volunteer organisation — NCC — during the unprecedented health crisis, Brig Advitya Madan is busy preparing the cadets from Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Phagwara as third line of corona warriors to join hands with the administration and the government to help contain the virus.
During the lockdown last year, when most of the activities, particularly commercial, came to a halt, he was busy working all seven days to facilitate things for the cadets to adopt new roles to help society and he still remains busy in that work. When people did not step out of their house threshold during the lockdown, the NCC group, led by its commander Brigadier Madan, was out to help people in need. Luckily, none of its volunteer cadets and officers was infected with the virus.
“We, at the Jalandhar NCC group, were able to beat the virus. The virus forced all the schools and colleges to shut, but the NCC cadets were out to extend their helping hand. We quickly took stock when the pandemic was at its peak in the month of May last year. When the residents remained confined in their houses, it were the brave NCC cadets who reached out to the civil administration to support them by ensuring physical distancing at mandis or at various public places. Many of the innovative cadets spent their free time making masks and cooking food for poor migrant labourers who were cycling back to Bihar and Jharkhand,” shared Brigadier Madan.
“The agenda for 2021 is very clear — we will not allow the pandemic to get the better of us. Cadets are being trained online in how to handle the situation at hospitals arising due to the shortage of oxygen and how to perform duties as third line corona warriors. While dodging this deadly virus, we are preparing ourselves for the Inter Directorate Thal Sena Competition also. We have already selected our under-17 hockey team to represent the NCC at the Nehru Cup scheduled for October this year,” says Brigadier Madan, adding that awareness campaigns are being held to motivate masses towards vaccination.
“Over the next eight months, we aim to keep our NCC cadets safe while simultaneously deploying the majority of cadets at the district Covid-19 centres for the primary job of contact tracing as the third line of Covid warriors. There are several Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat webinars which are on the anvil and raring to perform at the national level in which the Jalandhar group has been selected to act as the host group. We also have a series of events lined up to celebrate 75 years of Independence culminating on August 2021 with a well-planned mega event. One of them was recently organised to honour the sacrifice of Shaheed Bhagat Singh wherein scores of cadets were motivated by fiery speeches of a select panel of speakers,” added the Brigadier.
Unlock Exclusive Insights with The Tribune Premium
Take your experience further with Premium access.
Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only Benefits
Already a Member? Sign In Now