During his visit to NCC Republic Day Camp 2020, Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh conferred Raksha Mantri Padak and Commendation Cards to NCC cadets for their exemplary performance and devotion to duty.
Rajnath Singh was welcomed by the Director General of National Cadet Corps, Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra, AVSM. A contingent of smartly turned out NCC cadets drawn from the three wings — Army, Navy and Air Force — presented an impressive Guard of Honour to the Defense Minister.
Raksha Mantri Padak was instituted in 1989 and since then it is awarded to the most deserving cadet every year for bravery or exceptional service of the highest order. This year, the Raksha Mantri Padak was awarded to Lieutenant Raison Sam Raju of Kerala and Lakshadweep Directorate and Under Officer Rahul Sharma of Uttar Pradesh Directorate. Raksha Mantri Commendation Cards have been awarded to Sr Under Officer Shavetana Sambyal of Jammu and Kashmir Directorate, Capt (Dr) Rajeev Thomas of Kerala and Lakshadweep Directorate, Sr GCI Seema Rai of Uttar Pradesh Directorate and Cadet Soumya Ghosh of West Bengal and Sikkim Directorate.
Rajnath Singh also inspected the well laid out ‘Flag Area’, prepared by the cadets from all the 17 NCC Directorates depicting various social awareness themes. He was given a briefing by the cadets on their respective models. He also visited the ‘Hall of Fame’, which has an archival collection of alumni photographs, models and other achievements of the NCC.
In his address, he complimented the NCC for doing exceptional work towards Swachhata Abhiyan.