The NCC (National Cadet Corps) Republic Day camp 2014 kick started from January 1 at the NCC Camp, Garrison Parade Ground, Delhi Cantt. lt Gen Aniruddha Chakravarty, VSM, director general NCC delivered the opening address to all cadets on the occasion.
2,070 cadets including 702 girl cadets drawn from 17 NCC directorates, covering all the States and Union Territories of the country are participating in this camp. This also includes 102 cadets from Jammu and Kashmir and 156 cadets from North Eastern Region. The cadets are selected through a tough selection process of the NCC. Those attending the camp follow an intense schedule over the month participating in a number of activities like cultural, National integration awareness programme and institutional training competitions. The camp will also be visited by civil dignitaries including the vice president of India, Minister of Defence, Chief Minister of Delhi etc.
The aim of the Republic Day camp is to provide the cadets an exposure to the rich culture and traditions of our nation and the important events that take place in the National Capital during the run up for Republic Day besides projecting to the nation the cherished ideals and capacity of the cadets of the NCC. The camp portrays a reflection of mini India.
While addressing the gathering, Chakravarty highlighted the major achievements of the NCC in Nation building, social awareness and campaigns, community development, environment protection, sports and adventure. The scaling of Mt Everest by the boys team of NCC in May 2013 has added another feather in the cap of this premier youth organisation of the nation.
He also mentioned that the training philosophy of the cadets had been refined to accommodate the changing aspirations of our youth and expectations of the society. The focus was to facilitate soft skills and personality development of the cadets. The NCC has Youth Exchange programme with ten countries wherein various activities like desert safari, yachting regatta and Shivaji trail trek were conducted in 2013.
In order to accommodate the additional two lakh cadets, five group headquarters, fifty Army units, five Air units and five Naval units are being raised in Five phases from 2010 till 2017.