Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat laid the foundation stone for the building of Bharat Scouts and Guides, Uttarakhand at Naroorkheda, Raipur in Dehradun on Saturday. In his address to the education officers and the students after laying the foundation stone of the building, the Chief Minister said that Bharat Scouts and Guides is an international organisation meant to serve humanity regardless of geographical boundaries.
He appreciated the scouts and guides for the yeomen service they keep on rendering to mankind with discipline remaining their watchword. He directed the Government and education department officers to arrange a training programme for the scouts and guides so that they can by deployed in relief and rescue operations in case of emergency like floods, landslides, accidents and natural disaster in the State.
The department should establish a call centre at the State-level so that one can ask the officials for the deployment of scouts and guides locally in relief and rescue operations.
The State Government will bear the expenditure of the training programme for the scouts and the guides. To implement this, he directed the department offices to send a proposal to the State Government without delay. Uttarakhand Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani said that the scouts and the guides have made the state proud by winning awards at the national levels. Similar to allowances for transportation, refreshment and other expenses given to the NCC cadets, the scouts and the guides in the State will be provided the same by the State Government. The building Uttarakhand Bharat Scouts and Guides will be constructed with an estimated `4 crore which will be borne by the State Government. The State Government will take all possible steps to repair the damaged school buildings in the state. Among those present on the occasion were Raipur MlA Umesh Sharma Kau, Principal Secretary S Raju, Uttarakhand Bharat Scouts and Guides state chief CS Gwal, school education director (primary) RK Kunwar, additional director NK Bahuguna.